A Longitudinal Low Dose μCT Analysis of Bone Healing in Mice: A Pilot Study

Figure 3

Bone healing monitoring as a function of time using low dose µCT scans of live mice. (a) Representative views of 3D µCT reconstructed images of femurs on days 0, 21, and 57 after surgery. Variations in the density of the 3D ROI (determined at day 0 after surgery) make it possible to estimate the tissue composition. (b) 3D ROI can also be observed in axial, coronal, and sagittal views. (c) Representative cross-sectional views of the femur in which the 3D ROI is apparent in one image (slice). The colored voxels make it possible to see changes in defect composition as a function of time where most of the voxels were red on day 0 and blue on day 28, with an increasing proportion of green on day 57. Nonorganized substrate (red: −1000 to +800 HU), woven bone (blue: +1200 to +1900 HU), and compact bone (green; >2700 HU).

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