The structure of bone inside a porous bone graft substitute can be quantified and compared by using a combination of novel measurements of surface area and connectivity. This allows for a numerical representation of the bone structure to be calculated. Variation in absolute bone volume as a function of bone graft porosity has been well documented. However quantification of the 3D shape of bone and it's connectivity has always been difficult to assess let alone quantify. By use of novel computational methods the shape and connectivity of the bone can be characterised giving more insight to the relative quality of the bone ingrowth within the different porous grafts.Summary Statement
Introduction
