Understanding the biomechanics of bones in persons with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a key component to further understanding the disease, optimizing treatment and quality of life, as well as injury prevention. However, it is not feasible to study bone biomechanics in vivo. Thus, modeling may play a key role in understanding how OI bones respond to the loading experienced during various activities, especially ambulation. Biomechanical modeling can provide insight into bone fracture risks, such as type and location, from single applied loads or repetitive loading. One method for obtaining this information is via a finite element analysis (FEA). FEA is a general technique for mathematically approximating solutions to boundary-value problems.1 It is a powerful computational tool with numerous applications. These numerical methods are used to obtain an output from a system of differential equations in response to boundary condition inputs in many scenarios. FEA allows for the discretization of a structure into numerous subparts (elements) for analysis. Elements represent regular strait-side geometric 2-D or 3-D shapes that enclose a finite area or volume.2 Field output variables (stress, strain, etc.) are explicitly calculated at each vertex (node) of every element.3 These outputs provide information that corresponds to bone strength and, therefore, location and risk for potential fractures
