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A new finite element based parameter to predict bone fracture.

ABSTRACT: Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) is currently the most widely adopted non-invasive clinical technique to assess bone mineral density and bone mineral content in human research and represents the primary tool for the diagnosis of osteoporosis. DXA measures areal bone mineral density, BMD, which does not account for the three-dimensional structure of the vertebrae and for the distribution of bone mass. The result is that longitudinal DXA can only predict about 70% of vertebral fractures. This study proposes a complementary tool, based on Finite Element (FE) models, to improve the DXA accuracy. Bone is simulated as elastic and inhomogeneous material, with stiffness distribution derived from DXA greyscale images of density. The numerical procedure simulates a compressive load on each vertebra to evaluate the local minimum principal strain values. From these values, both the local average and the maximum strains are computed over the cross sections and along the height of the analysed bone region, to provide a parameter, named Strain Index of Bone (SIB), which could be considered as a bone fragility index. The procedure is initially validated on 33 cylindrical trabecular bone samples obtained from porcine lumbar vertebrae, experimentally tested under static compressive loading. Comparing the experimental mechanical parameters with the SIB, we could find a higher correlation of the ultimate stress, ?ULT, with the SIB values (R2adj = 0.63) than that observed with the conventional DXA-based clinical parameters, i.e. Bone Mineral Density, BMD (R2adj = 0.34) and Trabecular Bone Score, TBS (R2adj = -0.03). The paper finally presents a few case studies of numerical simulations carried out on human lumbar vertebrae. If our results are confirmed in prospective studies, SIB could be used-together with BMD and TBS-to improve the fracture risk assessment and support the clinical decision to assume specific drugs for metabolic bone diseases.

SUBMITTER: Colombo C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6894848 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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A new finite element based parameter to predict bone fracture.

Colombo Chiara C Libonati Flavia F Rinaudo Luca L Bellazzi Martina M Ulivieri Fabio Massimo FM Vergani Laura L

PloS one 20191205 12

Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) is currently the most widely adopted non-invasive clinical technique to assess bone mineral density and bone mineral content in human research and represents the primary tool for the diagnosis of osteoporosis. DXA measures areal bone mineral density, BMD, which does not account for the three-dimensional structure of the vertebrae and for the distribution of bone mass. The result is that longitudinal DXA can only predict about 70% of vertebral fractures. Thi ...[more]

PMID: 31805121

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Project description:Prior studies show vertebral strength from computed tomography-based finite element analysis may be associated with vertebral fracture risk. We found vertebral strength had a strong association with new vertebral fractures, suggesting that vertebral strength measures identify those at risk for vertebral fracture and may be a useful clinical tool.IntroductionWe aimed to determine the association between vertebral strength by quantitative computed tomography (CT)-based finite element analysis (FEA) and incident vertebral fracture (VF). In addition, we examined sensitivity and specificity of previously proposed diagnostic thresholds for fragile bone strength and low BMD in predicting VF.MethodsIn a case-control study, 26 incident VF cases (13 men, 13 women) and 62 age- and sex-matched controls aged 50 to 85 years were selected from the Framingham multi-detector computed tomography cohort. Vertebral compressive strength, integral vBMD, trabecular vBMD, CT-based BMC, and CT-based aBMD were measured from CT scans of the lumbar spine.ResultsLower vertebral strength at baseline was associated with an increased risk of new or worsening VF after adjusting for age, BMI, and prevalent VF status (odds ratio (OR) = 5.2 per 1 SD decrease, 95% CI 1.3-19.8). Area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve comparisons revealed that vertebral strength better predicted incident VF than CT-based aBMD (AUC = 0.804 vs. 0.715, p = 0.05) but was not better than integral vBMD (AUC = 0.815) or CT-based BMC (AUC = 0.794). Additionally, proposed fragile bone strength thresholds trended toward better sensitivity for identifying VF than that of aBMD-classified osteoporosis (0.46 vs. 0.23, p = 0.09).ConclusionThis study shows an association between vertebral strength measures and incident vertebral fracture in men and women. Though limited by a small sample size, our findings also suggest that bone strength estimates by CT-based FEA provide equivalent or better ability to predict incident vertebral fracture compared to CT-based aBMD. Our study confirms that CT-based estimates of vertebral strength from FEA are useful for identifying patients who are at high risk for vertebral fracture.

Project description:BackgroundIn the follow-up after internal fixation of thoracolumbar fractures, the imaging of some patients shows "crater-like" collapse of the superior endplate of the injured vertebra, with variable collapse area and depth, even involving the anterior edge of the vertebral body. Though many papers had described the phenomenon, but nearly no one did biomechanical research about this. So we did this research in a creative way by using finite element model.MethodsA healthy male volunteer was selected. The 64-slice thin-section spiral computed tomography images at the level of T11-L3 were collected. Data were imported into Mimics 15.0 medical image processing software to establish three-dimensional finite element skeletal models of T11 to L3 containing only three-dimensional surface elements without entities. The model was assigned values and verified. Then the pedicle screw-rod system was added to this model, and five models containing the screw-rod system with different defect sizes as well as five models that simulated the removal of the screw-rod system were derived at the same time (the defect volume was 1/5, 2/5, 3/5, 4/5, or 5/5 of the anterior vertebral column, respectively). Biomechanical analysis was then performed on this basis.ResultsAfter the removal of the internal fixator, as defect volume increased, the stress difference between the 4/5 defect group and the 5/5 defect group had the greatest magnitude of combined stress under the seven working conditions. When the volume of the collapse defect reached 4/5 of the anterior column of the vertebral body, the concentration of stress increased significantly, suggesting that the risk of continued compression or even refracture of the injured vertebra increased if the internal fixator was removed at that time.ConclusionsWhen the volume of the defect in the superior endplate of the injured vertebra reaches 4/5 of the anterior column, the removal of the internal fixator should be carefully considered to avoid refracture of the anterior column of the injured vertebra.

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A new finite element based parameter to predict bone fracture.

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A new finite element based parameter to predict bone fracture.

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