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Longitudinal changes in the orientation of trabecular bone in relation to the location in the distal radius
C M Korstjens1, W G Geraets, F C van Ginkel
1Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), The Netherlands.
Insights
Trabecular bone orientation near the growth plate remains stable during childhood development. Newly formed bone below the growth plate shows a higher perpendicular orientation than older bone.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Developmental Biology
- Radiology
Background:
- Trabecular bone orientation is crucial for skeletal development and mechanical integrity.
- Understanding changes in trabecular bone during growth is essential for pediatric orthopedics.
- The distal radius is a key site for studying bone development in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how trabecular bone orientation changes with growth and development.
- To analyze the relationship between trabecular bone location and its orientation.
- To assess changes in trabecular bone orientation between the epiphyseal growth plate and marrow cavity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized digital image processing on serial hand-wrist radiographs from the Nijmegen Growth Study.
- Analyzed 57 children aged 4-9 years, with five annual radiographs per child.
- Measured trabecular pattern orientation in four 7mm x 7mm areas in the distal radius.
Main Results:
- Trabecular bone orientation at a standardized distance from the epiphyseal growth plate showed no significant change during growth.
- Newly formed trabecular bone, located just below the growth plate, exhibited a higher perpendicular orientation compared to older bone.
- Longitudinal observation of single areas confirmed comparable developmental patterns.
Conclusions:
- Trabecular bone orientation in the distal radius is largely stable during childhood development.
- The orientation of newly formed bone differs from older bone, reflecting developmental processes.
- These findings contribute to understanding bone remodeling and development in pediatric populations.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to examine changes in orientation of trabecular bone during growth and development in relation to the location of trabeculae between the epiphysial growth plate and the marrow cavity. Five annual hand-wrist radiographs of 57 children between 4-9 years of age, originating from the Nijmegen Growth Study, were analysed by a digital image processing system. Analysis was carried out on four adjacent areas of 7 mm x 7 mm located in the distal head of the radius between the epiphyseal growthplate and the marrow cavity. The orientation of the trabecular pattern was measured in twelve directions. The orientation of trabeculae at a standardized distance from the epiphysial growth plate did not change significantly during growth and development. The orientation in directions perpendicular to the long axis of the radius was higher in newly formed trabecular bone, which is located just below the epiphysial growthplate, than in older trabecular bone at a larger distance from the epiphysial growth plate. Observation of one single area during five years of growth and development showed a comparable development.