Highlights
- •Autonomous finite elements of femurs based on 1 & 3 mm Computed Tomography scans were compared.
- •For stance positions differences of 11.0 ± 13.4% were observed in neck regions on average.
- •For stance positions differences of −1.5 ± 1.8% were observed in other regions on average
- •Consecutive 3 mm Computed Tomography scans may be used in clinical practice if changes are above 10%.
Abstract
Background
Patient-specific autonomous finite element analyses of femurs, based on clinical computed
tomography scans may be used to monitor the progression of bone-related diseases.
Some CT scan protocols provide lower resolution (slice thickness of 3 mm) that affects
the accuracy. To investigate the impact of low-resolution scans on the CT-based finite
element analyses results, identical CT raw data were reconstructed twice to generate
a 1 mm (“gold standard”) and a 3 mm slice thickness scans.
Methods
CT-based finite element analyses of twenty-four femurs (twelve patients) under stance
and sideways fall loads were performed based on 1 and 3 mm slice thickness scans.
Bone volume, load direction, and strains were extracted at different locations along
the femurs and differences were evaluated.
Findings
Average differences in bone volume were 1.0 ± 1.5%. The largest average difference
in strains in stance position was in the neck region (11.0 ± 13.4%), whereas in other
regions these were much smaller. For sidewise fall loading, the average differences
were at most 9.2 ± 16.0%.
Interpretation
Whole-body low dose CT scans (3 mm-slice thickness) are suboptimal for monitoring
strain changes in patient's femurs but may allow longitudinal studies if larger than
5% in all areas and larger than 12% in the upper neck. CT-based finite element analyses
with slice thickness of 3 mm may be used in clinical practice for patients with smoldering
myeloma to associate changes in strains with progression to active myeloma if above
~10%.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
January 9,
2023
Received:
July 3,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Journal Pre-ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
