Assessment of the long bone inter-fragmentary gap size in ultrasound strain elastograms.

The inter-fragmentary gap size (IFGS) is a critical factor affecting the propensity of bone healing. In this paper, we present a study to analyze ultrasound strain elastographic numerical features in samples with distinct IFGS using both simulations and experiments. Six fractured rabbit hind leg samples in total were used in this study with controlled IFGS of 1 mm, 5 mm and 1 cm.

A Model-Based Approach to Investigate the Effect of a Long Bone Fracture on Ultrasound Strain Elastography.

The mechanical behavior of long bones and fractures has been under investigation for many decades due to its complexity and clinical relevance. In this paper, we report a new subject-specific methodology to predict and analyze the mechanical behavior of the soft tissue at a bone interface with the intent of identifying the presence and location of bone abnormalities with high accuracy, spatial resolution, and contrast. The proposed methodology was tested on both intact and fractured rabbit femur samples with finite element-based 3-D simulations, created from actual femur computed tomography data, and ultrasound elastography experiments.

Characterization of controlled bone defects using 2D and 3D ultrasound imaging techniques.

Ultrasound is emerging as an attractive alternative modality to standard x-ray and CT methods for bone assessment applications. As of today, however, there is a lack of systematic studies that investigate the performance of diagnostic ultrasound techniques in bone imaging applications. This study aims at understanding the performance limitations of new ultrasound techniques for imaging bones in controlled experiments in vitro.

Glenoid component insertion in total shoulder arthroplasty: comparison of three techniques for drying the glenoid before cementation.

This prospective randomized study compared the immediate postoperative periglenoid radiolucencies among 3 glenoid-drying techniques used in total shoulder arthroplasty. Seventy-one consecutive patients with primary osteoarthritis underwent total shoulder arthroplasty by use of 1 prosthetic system with convex-back, keeled, polyethylene glenoid components; the same modern, instrumented pressurization technique was used to cement all glenoids. Of the shoulders, 21 had glenoid implants cemented after bony preparation with thrombin-soaked gel foam, 24 after compressed gas lavage, and 26 after saline solution lavage with sponge drying.

Tendon transfer fixation: comparing a tendon to tendon technique vs. bioabsorbable interference-fit screw fixation.

Tendon transfer techniques in the foot and ankle are used for tendon ruptures, deformities, and instabilities. This fresh cadaver study compares the tendon fixation strength in 10 paired specimens by performing a tendon to tendon fixation technique or using 7 x 20-25 mm bioabsorbable interference-fit screw tendon fixation technique. Load at failure of the tendon to tendon fixation method averaged 279N (Standard Deviation 81N) and the bioabsorbable screw 148N (Standard Deviation 72N) [p = 0.