Table 1 The advantage and disadvantage of each assessment for bone healing
From: The progress in quantitative evaluation of callus during distraction osteogenesis
| Method | Advantage | Disadvantage |
|---|---|---|
| Radiography |
Simple, fast and convenient; The most common assessment for bone union | Limited sensitivity for early callus formation |
| DXA |
Golden standard for BMD; Indirect assessment for bony microstructural |
Expensive; Limited for clinical application; Limited for limb assessment |
| Ultrasound |
Cheap, portable, ionizing radiation free and early monitoring |
Relatively limited sensitivity; Limited access to the force line of limb; Unaccessible for later osteotomy end space |
| QCT |
High accuracy and small error; Directly related to histological specimens |
Expensive; High radiation dose; Limited for clinical application |
| Biomechanical evaluation | Directly assessed the bone quality | Usually utilized in lab work |
| Biochemical markers | Theoretical basis for delayed bone union | Limited for clinical application |