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Micro-CT analyses of historical bone samples presenting with osteomyelitis
C Lamm1, M Dockner, B Pospischek
1Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University Vienna (MUV), Vienna, Austria, Christiane.Lamm@gmx.net.
Skeletal Radiology
|July 7, 2015
Summary
Osteomyelitis significantly alters bone structure, causing thinning and porosity in cortical bone. These changes, typically seen in aging, are prominent in patients with this bone infection.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Pathology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Osteomyelitis is a bone marrow inflammation, often caused by Staphylococcus aureus.
- It commonly affects long bones like the femur, tibia, and humerus.
- Micro-computed tomography (μCT) allows detailed investigation of bone micro-architecture.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long bone microstructure in osteomyelitis using μCT.
- To analyze structural changes in historic bone samples affected by osteomyelitis.
Main Methods:
- Examined 23 osteomyelitic femora from historical samples and 9 control femora from body donors.
- Assessed bone microstructure using micro-computed tomography (μCT) with 18 μm resolution.
Main Results:
- Cortical alterations were most prominent in osteomyelitic femora.
- Cortical porosity was observed in 71.4% of osteomyelitis cases.
- Cortical thinning (57.1%) and trabecularisation of cortical bone (42.9%) were also noted.
Conclusions:
- Osteomyelitis leads to significant changes in cortical bone structure.
- These structural alterations, including porosity and thinning, resemble those typically seen in advanced age.
