Prospects of computer models for the prediction of osteoporotic bone fracture risk

Bone fractures are major problems for osteoporosis patients. To avoid such fractures, more information is needed about the factors that determine the bone fracture risk. In this chapter, it is discussed how recently developed finite element computer models that can represent the trabecular architecture in full detail can provide such information. It is concluded that a computer modeling approach to this problem is feasible, required and promising. It is expected that, eventually, such models can be used as a basis for an accurate diagnosis of the bone fracture risk

Mechanical stability of trabecular bone morphology as a measure for osteoporosis

A new technique for assessing the mechanical stability of trabecular bone was introduced. This technique uses a full three dimensional reconstruction of a trabecular bone specimen and a finite element model to calculate the local stress distribution within the trabeculae. A little bone was artificially removed in the model at highly loaded locations and the changed stress distributions were determined. The changes in these distributions are indicative for the mechanical stability (change in fracture risk) of the trabecular architecture with respect to small changes in mass. The authors propose that this method can be used to measure the mechanical efficacy of a trabecular architecture in terms of fracture risk, thereby defining osteoporosis in a quantitative wa

Determination of tissue-level strains in trabecular structures with a 3-D digital image correlation technique

Poster 051

Prospects of computer models for the prediction of osteoporotic bone fracture risk

Bone fractures are major problems for osteoporosis patients. To avoid such fractures, more information is needed about the factors that determine the bone fracture risk. In this chapter, it is discussed how recently developed finite element computer models that can represent the trabecular architecture in full detail can provide such information. It is concluded that a computer modeling approach to this problem is feasible, required and promising. It is expected that, eventually, such models can be used as a basis for an accurate diagnosis of the bone fracture risk