Use of imageJ software to evaluate the radiological repair of circular bone defects treated with demineralized bone matrix in rabbits

Abstract

Radiology is a technique used in the diagnosis of fractures and evaluation of bone repair processes. The interaction of the X-rays with the tissues produces a gray image whose density can be set with ImageJ software. The authors report the use of the software to assess the repair progress of orthopedic bone defects treated with demineralized bone matrix (DBM). 12 rabbits that formed 3 treatment groups were used. The animals had a circular defect created in one of the femoral shafts that were treated with MOD. The samples were obtained at 15, 30 and 60 days postoperatively and X-rays of the defects were taken, quantifying the densities of the defects and the neighboring bone; the ratio between both densities generated the relative optical density (DOR) of the defect. The DORs were analyzed in the Infostat software. Radiographs indicated increased densities of the defects, consistent with repair. At 15 days, the mean DOR was 0.68 (±0.08); at 30 days 0.7 (±0.08), and at 60 days 0.94 (±0.03). Fisher’s LSD test established that there were no significant differences at 15 and 30 days, while at 60 days the increase in densities was significant (p>0.05). The method used to analyze radiological images with ImageJ validates the comparison of densities at different stages of repair of MOD-treated orthopedic bone defects.