Noninvasive assessment of fracture healing using impact resonant frequency analysis-an in-vitro FEM model and in-vivo correlations

The use of impact resonant frequency analysis to noninvasively quantify fracture healing was investigated in closed human tibia fractures and canine radius fracture. Comparison with the results obtained from a finite-element model show that as healing time increases, normalized resonant frequency also increases for normal healing fractures. Several parameters were varied in the finite-element model to establish the effects on the resonant frequency. Changes in the cross-sectional properties and modulus of elasticity of the callus has the largest affect on the resonant frequency.<>