A computational method of obtaining reliable measurement of periosteal cross-sectional area of human radii from laser scans

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe accurate quantification of bones cross-sectional geometry provides valuable information about mechanical properties of bones such as rigidity to torsional, bending and compressive loading and also reveals insights into habitual activities of humans in the past. However, the use of current methods can produce large errors between measured and true cross-sectional areas. In this study the minimum cross sectional area was calculated at mid-shaft for a unique collection of laser scanned radii bones, recovered from Mary Rose warship, using a novel technique. A computational method was used to measure multiple cross-sectional areas for different orientations to then determine a minimum. This was then taken to represent a reliable mid-shaft cross-sectional area. The reliability of the process was tested using Bland and Altman plots to analyse the agreement between measurement trials. The systematic bias between the two measurement trials was 0.06mm2 (0.04% of the average cross-sectional area measurement) with 95% limits of agreement of 1.69mm2 (1.13%) and -1.57mm2 (1.05%). Consequently this method can be used as a reliable measure of periosteal cross-sectional area. The possibility also exists to transfer the methods described here to other imaging technologies for example, micro CT and magnetic resonance imaging. This would augment existing methods of computational analysis and produce accurate models.Keywords: computational modelling, bone topology, osteology, biomechanic