Noninvasive Detection of Microdamage in Bone
Abstract
This concept exploration proposal seeks to determine if a novel x-ray technique called diffraction enhanced imaging, which provides dramatic gains in contrast over conventional radiography, can be used to identify microdamage in bone non-invasively. This technique has been used successfully in soft tissues, including recent studies by our group to detect damage in articular cartilage. Here, we plan to extend our work to studies relevant to microdamage accumulation and repair in bone. Interest in microdamage in bone comes in part from its likely role in the etiology of stress fractures. In addition, microdamage accumulation may contribute to osteoporotic fractures and loosening of dental or orthopedic implants. Our working hypothesis is that microdamage in bone can be detected non-invasively by diffraction enhanced imaging because this imaging modality expands the ability of x-rays to record refraction and scatter rejection (extinction) as well as absorption. No matter the spatial scale of the fracture feature, diffraction enhanced imaging has a contrast mechanism suited to make the feature visible. We outlined two specific aims, with initiation of specific aim 2 dependent upon successful completion of specific aim 1. Although there were some positive indications in a series of six experiments, it is not yet clear that microdamage can be detected by DEI. Our conclusion is that a number of technical limitations, especially the resolution of the detector, inhibited our ability to give the hypothesis the best test.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA423612
Entities
People
- Dale R. Sumner
Organizations
- Rush University Medical Center