A new in vivo method of quantitating the rate of magnitude of mineralization of an experimental osseous defect.

An in vivo, quantitative, non-destructive method of measuring bone mineral deposition in a repairing osseous defect has been developed. A circular osteotomy, used as a controlled fracture, was found to be extremely reproducible, and could be introduced with a minimum of trauma. The rate and magnitude of mineralization of the osteotomy was directly related to the attenuation of a highly collimated photon beam produced by Iodine-125. Changes in bone mineral content of 4% can be detected using this system.