Comparison of micro-CT and histomorphometry in the measurement of bone-implant contact ratios

Publication date: Available online 4 January 2019

Source: Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology

Author(s): Jung-Yoo Choi, Jae-Il Park, Ji Soo Chae, In-Sung Luke Yeo

Abstract

Objective

The purpose of this study was to measure the three dimensional bone-to-implant contact (BIC) ratios calculated with an associated software algorithm on 3D micro-computed tomography (μCT) scans and compare them to measurements made on the basis of two-dimensional histomorphometry.

Study Design

For uncomplicated calculation of the 3D BIC ratios, 16 implants (8 grade 2 and 8 grade 4 titanium) with simple cylindrical geometry were inserted into 8 rabbit tibiae; 2 implants were inserted into each tibia. The experimental animals were sacrificed at 2 weeks after surgery. The implants were surgically removed en bloc with surrounding bone. 3D μCT images were acquired and reconstructed and histomorphometric procedures were performed. The calculated 3D BIC ratios were compared to the histomorphometrically measured BIC ratios.

Results

When the 3D BIC ratios calculated in this study were compared to the BIC ratios measured conventionally using histologic slides for light microscopy, no significant statistical correlation was found between the two ratios (P ≥ 0.35).

Conclusions

This study indicated that 3D μCT should be used for more accurate BIC assessment to produce an overall 3D picture for the bone-implant interface.

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