Interrelationships between electrical properties and microstructure of human trabecular bone

Sierpowska, J.; Hakulinen, M. A.; Töyräs, J.; Day, J. S.; Weinans, H.; Kiviranta, I.; Jurvelin, J. S.; Lappalainen, R.

Affiliations

¹Department of Physics, University of Kuopio, PO Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland

¹Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Kuopio University Hospital and University of Kuopio, PO Box 1777, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland

³Erasmus Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Erasmus MC EE1614, PO Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands

⁴Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Jyväskylä Central Hospital, Keskussairaalantie 19, FI-40620 Jyväskylä, Finland

⁵Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, PO Box 1777, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland

Abstract

Microstructural changes, such as reduction of trabecular thickness and number, are characteristic signs of osteoporosis leading to diminished bone strength. Electrical and dielectric parameters might provide diagnostically valuable information on trabecular bone microstructure not extractable from bone mineral density measurements. In this study, structural properties of human trabecular bone samples (n = 26) harvested from the distal femur and proximal tibia were investigated using the computed microtomography (microCT) technique. Quantitative parameters, e.g. structural model index (SMI) or trabecular bone volume fraction (BV/TV), were calculated. In addition, the samples were examined electrically over a wide frequency range (50Hz–5 MHz) using a two-electrode impedance spectroscopy set-up. Relative permittivity, loss factor, conductivity, phase angle, specific impedance and dissipation factor were determined. Significant linear correlations were obtained between the dissipation factor and BV/TV or SMI (|r| ≥ 0.70, p < 0.01, n = 26). Principal component analyses, conducted on electrical and structural parameters, revealed that the high frequency principal component of the dissipation factor was significantly related to SMI (r = 0.72, p < 0.01, n=26). The linear combination of high and low frequency relative permittivity predicted 73% of the variation in BV/TV. To conclude, electrical and dielectric parameters of trabecular bone, especially relative permittivity and dissipation factor, were significantly and specifically related to a trabecular microstructure as characterized with microCT. The data gathered in this study constitute a useful basis for theoretical and experimental work towards the development of impedance spectroscopy techniques for detection of bone quality in vitro or in special cases of open surgery.

Links

DOI: 10.1088/0031-9155/51/20/014

PubMed: 17019039

WoS: 000241084200014

History

Received: 2005-12-14

Revised: 2006-07-03

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