Statistical analysis of bone mineral density using voxel-based morphometry-an application on proximal sesamoid bones in racehorses.
Abstract: Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) is a computational technique that has been used to analyze statistical differences between groups of MR brain images. This study outlines a new VBM pipeline, designed for determining statistical variation in bone mineral density (BMD). CT images of proximal sesamoid bone (PSB) specimens from the right forelimb of six racehorses that had suffered PSB fractures were compared with six age-matched control specimens. Following segmentation, masked gray-scale images were co-aligned to a statistical template generated with all 12 CT datasets iteratively. Student t-tests were performed voxel-by-voxel on spatially aligned 3D images to reveal significant differences in the spatial variation of bone density between the fracture and control groups. Overall density and densities from the axial and abaxial areas of PSBs were compared between groups. The BMD in abaxial regions of the medial and lateral PSBs of the fracture group were 12.7% (p = 0.044) and 13.5% (p = 0.047) higher, respectively, than controls. The overall mean density of paired PSB and the medial and lateral PSBs separately were higher in the fracture group. The VBM pipeline facilitates detailed comparison of density variation between bone groups at the voxel level.
Copyright © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society.
Publication Date: 2011-02-25 PubMed ID: 21360582DOI: 10.1002/jor.21364Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research investigates the use of an advanced computation method, voxel-based morphometry (VBM), in assessing bone mineral density (BMD) variations in racehorses. It highlights the significant differences in bone density between racehorses who had experienced proximal sesamoid bone (PSB) fractures and those who hadn’t.
Research Methodology
- Researchers in this study utilized voxel-based morphometry (VBM), an advanced computational technique commonly used in analyzing magnetic resonance (MR) brain images. The aim was to investigate its applicability in studying bone mineral density (BMD).
- Computed tomography (CT) images were extracted from both horses that experienced PSB fractures and a control group. These images focused on the proximal sesamoid bone (PSB) samples from the right forelimb of six racehorses.
- These CT images were then processed by encompassing segmentation, wherein the raw images were transformed into masked gray-scale images which were co-aligned to a statistical template. The template was developed iteratively from all twelve CT datasets.
Findings
- Post-processing the images, the researchers performed a student t-test on the spatially aligned 3D images. The test was conducted voxel-by-voxel, aiming at revealing notable disparities in spatial variation of bone density between the fracture and control group.
- It was found that the bone mineral density in certain areas of the medial and lateral proximal sesamoid bones of the fractured group was measurably higher as compared to the control group, with a percentage increase of 12.7% and 13.5% respectively.
- Furthermore, the overall mean density of both the paired proximal sesamoid bones and the individual medial and lateral bones was also higher within the fracture group.
Significance
- The findings indicate a correlation between higher bone density and fracture occurrence, implying a greater risk of PSB fractures in racehorses with higher bone density.
- The study showcases the potential of voxel-based morphometry (VBM) in detailed bone analysis and comparison at a voxel level, a much-needed advancement in bone density studies.
Cite This Article
APA
Shi L, Wang D, Riggs CM, Qin L, Griffith JF.
(2011).
Statistical analysis of bone mineral density using voxel-based morphometry-an application on proximal sesamoid bones in racehorses.
J Orthop Res, 29(8), 1230-1236.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jor.21364 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bone Density
- Case-Control Studies
- Horses / injuries
- Horses / physiology
- Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
- Sesamoid Bones / diagnostic imaging
- Sesamoid Bones / injuries
- Statistics as Topic
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Noordwijk KJ, Chen L, Ruspi BD, Schurer S, Papa B, Fasanello DC, McDonough SP, Palmer SE, Porter IR, Basran PS, Donnelly E, Reesink HL. Metacarpophalangeal Joint Pathology and Bone Mineral Density Increase with Exercise but Not with Incidence of Proximal Sesamoid Bone Fracture in Thoroughbred Racehorses.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Feb 24;13(5).
- Consoli FMA, Bernaldo de Quirós Y, Arbelo M, Fulle S, Marchisio M, Encinoso M, Fernandez A, Rivero MA. Cetaceans Humerus Radiodensity by CT: A Useful Technique Differentiating between Species, Ecophysiology, and Age.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Jul 13;12(14).
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