Assessment of bone quality using finite element analysis based upon micro-CT images

Rhee, Yumie<sup>1</sup>; Hur, June-Huyck<sup>2</sup>; Won, Ye-Yeon<sup>3</sup>; Lim, Sung-Kil<sup>1</sup>; Beak, Myong-Hyun<sup>4</sup>; Cui, Wen-Quan<sup>3</sup>; Kim, Kwang-Gyoun<sup>3</sup>; Kim, Young Eun<sup>3</sup>

Affiliations

¹Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea

²LCT Orthropaedic Speciality Hospital, Suwon, Korea

³Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea

⁴Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dankook University, Yongin, Korea

Abstract and keywords

Background: To evaluate the feasibility of a micro-image based finite element model to determine the efficacy of sequential treatments on the bone quality in a rat osteoporosis model.

Methods: Rat osteoporosis and treated osteoporosis models were established with the bone loss, restore and maintain concept. Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. A sham operation or ovariectomy was performed at 20 weeks after birth, which was followed by the respective sequential trials as follows: (1) sham-operation only, (2) ovariectomy only, (3) ovariectomized rats with parathyroid hormone maintenance, (4) ovariectomized rats treated with PTH for 5 weeks and then withdrawal, (5) ovariectomized rats treated with PTH for 5 weeks and then with 17 beta-estradiol, and (6) ovariectomized rats treated with parathyroid hormone for 5 weeks and then treated with zoledronate. The histomorphometry indices were determined using the micro-images from a micro-computed tomogram. Finite element analysis was carried out to determine the mechanical properties (Stiffness and Young's modulus) of the vertebra bodies. The differences in properties between the groups were compared using ANOVA and a Bonferroni's multiple group comparison procedure.

Results: The histomorphometry and mechanical properties were significantly better in groups (3) and (6) than in the groups (1) and (2) (p < 0.05). The stiffness (σs) and Young's modulus (E) was highest in group (3) following by group (6).

Conclusions: Finite element analysis based on micro-images provides a useful tool that reflects the changes in micro-structural and mechanical properties of a rat vertebral body with the bone loss, restore and maintain concept.

Keywords: Osteoporosis, Vertebral body, Microstructure, Micro-CT, Finite element analysis, Rat

Links

DOI: 10.4055/cios.2009.1.1.40

PubMed: 19884996

PubMedCentral: PMC2766693

History

Received: 2008-04-10

Accepted: 2008-06-09

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Cited By (7)

Year	Entry
2021	Surowiec RK, Ram S, Idiyatullin D, Goulet R, Schlecht SH, Galban CJ, Kozloff KM. In vivo quantitative imaging biomarkers of bone quality and mineral density using multi-band-SWIFT magnetic resonance imaging. Bone. February 2021;143:115615.
2018	Driver MG. Finite Element Analysis of Cortical Shell Contributions to Apparent Stiffness and the Effect of Vascular Apertures in Rat Vertebrae Under Uniaxial Compression [Master's thesis]. Queen's University; December 2018.
2013	Wu Y. Compositional and Material Properties of Rat Bone After Drug Treatment [PhD thesis]. Edmonton, AB: University of Alberta; 2013.
2012	Wilkerson LT. Finite Element Analysis of Cancellous Bone [Master's thesis]. University of Kentucky; 2012.
2019	Surowiec R. Novel Models to Image and Quantify Bone Drug Efficacy and Disease Progression in Vivo: Addressing the Fragility Phenotype [PhD thesis]. University of Michigan; 2019.
2011	Herblum R. Evaluation of the Micro Level Structural Integrity of the Spine Through Micro Finite Element Modeling and Histological Analysis [Master's thesis]. University of Toronto; 2011.
2014	Choudhari C. Image-Based Characterization of the Mechanical Behaviour of Healthy and Metastatically-Involved Vertebrae [Master's thesis]. University of Toronto; 2014.