Morphometric texture analysis of spinal trabecular bone structure assessed using orthogonal radiographic projections

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Orthopedics
• Radiology

Background:

• Bone strength estimation is crucial for assessing fracture risk.
• Current methods like bone mineral density (BMD) may not fully capture bone's biomechanical properties.
• Bone microstructure plays a significant role in determining overall bone strength.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between trabecular bone texture parameters and bone strength.
• To determine if trabecular texture analysis can enhance bone strength estimation beyond BMD measurements.
• To assess the anisotropy of trabecular bone structure using quantitative radiographic techniques.

Main Methods:

• Human cadaver vertebrae were sectioned into cubic specimens and tested in compression along three orthogonal orientations.
• Contact radiographs were digitized, and trabecular bone networks were extracted using thresholding algorithms.
• Texture parameters (e.g., apparent bone volume fraction, mean intercept length, fractal dimension) and BMD were measured.
• Multivariate regression analysis was used to correlate texture parameters and BMD with Young's modulus (YM).

Main Results:

• Trabecular texture parameters and Young's modulus (YM) showed significant differences across orthogonal orientations, indicating anisotropy.
• Texture parameters, individually and in combination with BMD, improved the prediction of YM.
• Specific texture parameters, such as apparent bone volume fraction and fractal dimension, demonstrated a significant effect on mechanical strength, sometimes exceeding that of BMD.

Conclusions:

• Trabecular texture parameters are significantly correlated with BMD and YM.
• Quantitative radiographic assessment of trabecular structure reflects bone's anisotropic properties.
• Fine-detail radiography of trabecular structure holds potential for improving bone strength estimation and fracture risk assessment.