Quantitative Imaging of Angiogenesis in Defect Femoral Fracture Healing using 3D Micro- and Nano-CT

Ziele: To evaluate the feasibility of micro-and nano-CT for quantitative analysis of vascularization in fracture defects filled with bone substitute material. Methode: In 8 rates 5mm full-size defects were created at the left distal metaphyseal femur that was filled with silicat-collagen bone substitute material and internally fixed with plate osteosynthesis. After 6 weeks the femora were infused in situ with Microfil, harvested and scanned for micro-CT (9µm cubic voxels) and nano-CT (3µm cubic voxels) imaging. Using those 3D images, we characterized the exact size of the fracture defect and of the bone replacement material. The total vascular volume fraction, the volume of the bone substitute material and the volume of the bony defect was determined and the significance of differences in measurements was tested with analysis of variance [ANOVA]. Results were complemented by histology. Ergebnis: Micro-and Nano-CT imaging provided quantitative information on vascular perfusion within the fracture territory. The mean vascular volume fraction (VVF) was calculated to be 3.01±0.4% within the fracture zone. The VVF is inversely correlated with the volume of the bone substitute material (r=0.8) but not with the dimension of the fracture zone (r=0.3). Schlussfolgerung: Micro- and Nano-CT imaging is feasible for quantitative analysis of angiogenesis during fracture healing

Keywords: Angiogenesis, Imaging, Micro-CT, Nano-CT

Korrespondierender Autor: Langheinrich A

Universitätsklinikum Giessen, Radiologie, Klinikstrasse 36, 35385 Giessen

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