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Updated: Aug 27, 2025

Outer-Boundary Assisted Segmentation and Quantification of Trabecular Bones by an Imagej Plugin
Published on: March 14, 2018
An open-access plug-in program for 3D modelling distinct material properties of cortical and trabecular bone
Gregory R Roytman1,2,3,4, Matan Cutler5, Kenneth Milligan6
1Yale Center for Medical Informatics, Yale School of Medicine, 300 George St, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA. gregory.roytman@yale.edu.
Background:
Finite element modelling the material behavior of bone in-silico is a powerful tool to predict the best suited surgical treatment for individual patients.
Results:
We demonstrate the development and use of a pre-processing plug-in program with a 3D modelling image processing software suite (Synopsys Simpleware, ScanIP) to assist with identifying, isolating, and defining cortical and trabecular bone material properties from patient specific computed tomography scans. The workflow starts by calibrating grayscale values of each constituent element with a phantom - a standardized object with defined densities. Using an established power law equation, we convert the apparent density value per voxel to a Young's Modulus. The resulting "calibrated" scan can be used for modeling and in-silico experimentation with Finite Element Analysis.
Conclusions:
This process allows for the creation of realistic and personalized simulations to inform a surgeon's decision-making. We have made this plug-in program open and accessible as a supplemental file.
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