Simultaneous visualization of micro‐damage in cortical bone, trabecular bone, and intracortical vasculature for diagnosing osteoporosis: An animal model synchrotron imaging

Abstract Osteoporosis (OP) is difficult to diagnose through the three‐dimensional visualization of micro‐damage. In this study, aimed to make an objective diagnosis by visualizing micro‐damage caused by OP using synchrotron radiation‐based μCT (SR‐μCT). Female mice ( n = 12) were randomly divided into an ovariectomized group (OVX, n = 6) in which both ovaries were excised and OP occurred, and a sham‐operated group (SHAM , n = 6). After six weeks, all femurs (left and right) were excised from both groups ( n = 12 per group). Thereafter, femurs were randomly divided into SR‐μCT (OVX group, n = 6; SHAM group, n = 6) and μCT (OVX group, n = 6; SHAM group, n = 6) groups. In the SR‐μCT group, micro‐damage was visualized by manually segmenting the cortical bone, trabecular bone, and intracortical vasculature using a water‐shedding algorithm. In addition, trabecular bone was obtained by automatic segmentation using μCT. Cortical bone volume/total volume was greater ( p = .015), and cortical thickness was greater in the SHAM group than in the OVX group ( p = .007). Among the trabecular bone parameters, the bone volume/total volume (TV) in OVX was significantly lower than that in the SHAM group ( p = .012). The canal volume was greater ( p = .021) and lacuna volume was greater ( p < .001) in the SHAM group than in the OVX group. We expect that it will be possible to analyze damage and recovery mechanisms in the field of rehabilitation. SR‐μCT has been proposed as an objective method for OP diagnosis as it allows the visualization of microstructures. Research Highlights Damage mechanism for diagnosis and evaluation in an osteoporosis model. Synchrotron radiation can objectively diagnose osteoporosis. Visualization is possible by segmenting microdamage caused by osteoporosis.