A neural network approach for bone fracture healing assessment

Abstract

An approach based on auscultatory percussion, a technique used by some orthopedists both for bone fracture detection and bone fracture healing assessment, is described. Low-frequency, low-intensity mechanical power, very much like the finger tap of orthopedists, is used to evaluate the vibrational response of the bone. The novel element is the data processing, which incorporates specialized preprocessing and a neural network for estimating fractured bone strength. In addition, a new mathematical model for the vibrational response of a fractured limb, which provides data to design and test the neural network processing scheme, is presented. An experimental procedure is described for acquiring real data from animal and human fractures in a form necessary for neural network input.

Predictive Behavior of a Computational Foot/Ankle Model through Artificial Neural Networks

“…Subsequently, an ANN was trained on these admittance values (inputs) and classifications representing one of four levels of a healed fracture (outputs). Good ANN performance was observed and the researchers planned to expand the ANN application to human and animal models [ 10 ]. Because the preceding examples used ANNs successfully to complement biomechanical studies, their use for stiffness optimization was considered applicable to the current work and implemented in a preliminary study [ 20 ].…”

Bootstrapping Confidence Intervals for Clinical Input Variable Effects in a Network Trained to Identify the Presence of Acute Myocardial Infarction

“…The artificial neural network has been successfully applied to a broad range of clinical settings (Widrow and Hoff 1960;Rumelhart et al 1986;McClelland et al 1988;Weigend et al 1990;Hudson et al 1988;Smith et al 1988;Saito and Nakano 1988;Kaufman et al 1990;Hiraiwa et al 1990;Cios et al 1990;Marconi et al 1989;Eberhard et al 1991;Mulsant and Servan-Schreiber 1988;Bounds et al 1990;Yoon et al 1989). Such a network has been adapted for use as an aid to the clinical diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (Baxt 1990(Baxt , 1991(Baxt , 1992aHarrison et al 1991) (heart attack).…”

Estimation of Tibia Length in Turkish Adults Using the Artificial Neural Network Method

“…In recent years, the artificial neural network (ANN) method has been used in the field of orthopedics 6 . In the medicine field, several examples can be given for ANN, such as the neural network prediction of the movement of the lower extremities using angle-angle diagrams 7 , medical imaging 8 , medical disease prediction 9 , automated detection and classification of proximal humerus fracture 10 , improving bone strength prediction in human proximal femur specimens 11 , bone fracture healing assessment 12 , determination of patellar position 13 , and estimation of femur length from the proximal measurements 14 . The ANN method is a mathematical model that mimics the human brain functionality.…”