A modified pixel value ratio based on contralateral normal bone: a novel reliable indicator for distraction osteogenesis

• Published in: American journal of translational research Vol. 15; no. 2; pp. 1247 - 1253
• Main Authors: Liu, Qi, Liang, Jieyu, Liu, Ze, Mei, Haibo, Zhu, Guanghui, Guo, Hongbin, Wang, Min, Zhang, Yi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States e-Century Publishing Corporation 01.01.2023
• Subjects: Original; Bone lengthening; plain radiography; Ilizarov technique; external fixator; modified pixel value ratio; distraction osteogenesis
• ISSN: 1943-8141; 1943-8141

The traditional pixel value ratio (tPVR) is subject to disuse osteopenia of the adjacent bone in distraction osteogenesis (DO). Therefore, a modified PVR (mPVR) based on the contralateral normal bone was developed and validated to address this issue. A total of 79 bone lengthening subjects were recruited in this retrospective study. The difference between the mPVR and tPVR of early callus was identified in the first three months after osteotomy. Moreover, we further investigated the relationship between mPVR and healing index (HI), lengthening index (LI) and external fixator index (EFI). Finally, the potential influencing factors for mPVR of the early callus were analyzed. The mPVR was significantly lower than the tPVR in the first three months after osteotomy, and the difference gradually increased. Interestingly, the mPVR of the early callus in the first two months was negatively correlated with the HI, LI and EFI. Moreover, the age, lengthening site, total bilirubin and mean hemoglobin content were associated with the mPVR of early callus during DO. The mPVR based on contralateral normal bone is a novel reliable indicator for DO, which may be helpful for the clinical management of DO. However, the findings of this study need to be confirmed further by larger prospective research.