The bootstrap approach to the comparison of two methods applied to the evaluation of the growth index in the analysis of the digital X-ray image of a bone regenerate

Abstract

The bone elongation by Ilizarov method is the important way of treatment of physical disability. During the elongation is necessary to control the accumulation of a regenerate and indicate the moment when fixator should be removed. The control is performed by observing the X-ray images and evaluation of the Regenerate Development coefficient. The automated image analysis is used to ensure the objectivity and reproducibility of the measurement. The authors have developed a new method for evaluating coefficient reflecting the specific treatment regenerate parts of an image associated with intramedullary nail. To assess the equivalence of the method with respect to the current, the bootstrap method was applied to sample of 23 X-ray images. The bootstrap method provided the simulated distribution of the difference between the index obtained from the new method and the index obtained from the previous one.