A test of two methods of radiographically deriving long bone cross‐sectional properties compared to direct sectioning of the diaphysis

Abstract

AbstractNumerous studies have made use of cross‐sectional geometry to describe the distribution of cortical bone in long bone diaphyses. Several methods can be used to measure or estimate cross‐sectional contours. Direct sectioning (DSM) of the diaphysis is not appropriate in most curatorial contexts, and is commonly substituted with methods based upon bi‐planar radiography: a latex cast method (LCM) or an eccentric elliptical method (EEM). Previous studies have demonstrated that the EEM provides accurate estimates of area measurements, while providing less accurate estimates of second moments of area (Biknevicius & Ruff, 1992; Runestad et al., 1993; Lazenby, 1997). The LCM has been commonly employed, as a way to estimate section contours more accurately, yet the validity of this method has not been adequately documented. This study measures the agreement of these methods against DSM of long bone diaphyses using 21 sections of canine tibiae derived from a study of total hip arthroplasty. The accuracy and agreement of these methods is evaluated using reduced major axis regression, paired sample t‐tests and tests for agreement (Bland & Altman, 1986). The results illustrate that the LCM provides a reasonable estimate of cross‐sectional dimensions, producing cross‐sectional properties that are on average within 5% of properties derived from the DSM. The EEM is found to provide adequate estimates of true cross‐sectional areas, but poor estimates of second moments of area. The use of the LCM is supported for all cross‐sectional properties, but the EEM is only accurate in total area, cortical area and percent cortical area estimates. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.