Quantitative analysis of revascularisation and new bone formation in experimental bone grafts. The use of an image input and processing system.

Revascularisation and new bone formation in bone grafts has been extensively studied by histological techniques, but the images obtained are very complex and consequently difficult to evaluate quantitatively. We report similar analyses in experimental bone grafts using newer computerised digital techniques. Fresh autografts and fresh and frozen allografts were used. The histological analogue images from them were input digitally into an image processor. The amount of revascularisation and new bone formation could then be quantified in the different grafts. This system has proved to be a useful method of evaluation which could be applied to the quantitative analysis of other histological images.