Correlation between the region of interest in digital radiography, Hounsfield units, and histological maturation on Wistar rats submitted to tibial fracture

Authors

  • Eduardo de Oliveira Carrilho Padula Serviço de Cirurgia do Pé e Tornozelo, Hospital Municipal Lourenço Jorge, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Lucas Pires Experimental Morphology Laboratory, Morphology Department, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2756-1794
  • Marcio Babinski Experimental Morphology Laboratory, Morphology Department, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7988-1071

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30795/jfootankle.2024.v18.1745

Keywords:

bone healing, digital radiology, hounsfield units, histomorphometry

Abstract

Objective: Study the relationship between the region of interest (ROI) and Hounsfield units (HU) in the tibial bone callus. Methods: Twenty-one adult Wistar rats were submitted to tibial fracture. The fracture was radiographed after their euthanasia, and the bone calluses were analyzed histologically after being stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Euthanasia occurred between the 2nd and 6th weeks after fracture and fixation, thus obtaining various consolidation stages. Histologically, vessels, chondroblasts, connective tissue (collagen), maximum size of the chondrocyte, and the concentration of chondrocytes were quantified. Results: It was observed that the higher the HU, the more mature and closer to bone consolidation it is, proving that the use of ROI and bone callus measurement with HU is reliable for the histological process of maturation of the bone callus and can be safely used as proof of evolution of the bone healing process. Conclusion: The ROI was successfully used in digital radiography to observe HU in fractured bones. Level of Evidence IV; Therapeutic Studies; Case Series.

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Published

2024-05-14

How to Cite

Padula, E. de O. C., Pires, L., & Babinski, M. (2024). Correlation between the region of interest in digital radiography, Hounsfield units, and histological maturation on Wistar rats submitted to tibial fracture. Journal of the Foot & Ankle, 18(1), 46–51. https://doi.org/10.30795/jfootankle.2024.v18.1745