Algorithm to Detect Fracture from OPG Images Using Texture Analysis

Mandibular fracture, also known as fracture of alower jaw is a break in the mandibular bone. Mandibularfracture occurs due to facial injuries. After clinical observations, doctors suggest to have a radiograph to view a position of thefracture. Orthopantamogram (OPG) is suggested to viewmandible fracture and directions of fracture lines. For anengineer, automating the process of locating fracture is achallenging task and he/she desires to make it a useful assistanceto medical practitioners. This paper presents an algorithm todetect location of a fracture from an OPG image. Fracture inmandible bone which is present in lower jaw is located usingproposed algorithm. Fracture line in an image is a break incontinuous texture. It is difficult to detect such a fracturebecause, these breaks are minor changes in intensities of grayscale structures in an image. The algorithm presented in thepaper makes use of image processing techniques and textureanalysis to detect fracture location from mandible bone which ispresent in the lower jaw. A mask is used to find a break inmandible structure. Detecting such a break in mandible structureis critical as it requires separating fracture from other featureslike teeth and gum area present in OPG image.