Ability and Limitation of Radiographic Assessment of Fracture Healing in Rats

The purpose of the present study was to assess whether clinicians are actually able to evaluate the mechanical status of fracture healing from radiograms. Fifteen orthopaedic surgeons evaluated the radiograms of experimentally produced femur fractures in rats and predicted mechanical strength (%) of the affected side compared to the unaffected control side. Following this, actual mechanical strength of the affected and control side was determined by a three-point bending test. The median of the strength in the transverse fracture model predicted from radiograms was 33% (2 weeks), 72% (4 weeks), 88% (6 weeks), 84% (8 weeks), and 89% (12 weeks). The actual measured recovery ratio of mechanical strength (exp/control × 100) was 36%, 76%, 93%, 89%, and 106% in each observation period respectively. The tendency was almost the same in a comminuted fracture model. The mean recovery rate determined by interpretation of the surgeons correlated linearly to the actual measured mechanical strength determined by mechanical testing (R²: 0.80 in transverse fracture, 0.60 in comminuted fracture). Clinicians demonstrated that a comparatively good evaluation of the mechanical status of fracture healing is possible from radiograms up to approximately 80% recovery. However, they tended to make less accurate, weaker assessments at the final stages. In conclusion, radiograms may be inadequate for evaluation of fracture healing completion.