Measurement of intraspecimen variations in vertebral cancellous bone architecture

Kothari, M.; Keaveny, T. M.; Lin, J. C.; Newitt, D. C.; Majumdar, S.

Affiliations

¹Magnetic Resonance Science Center, Department of Radiology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA

²Orthopedic Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA

³Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA

Abstract and keywords

A three-dimensional technique was developed for the quantification of the number and cross-sectional geometry of individual trabeculae oriented along a given direction. As an example application, the number of vertical and horizontal trabeculae and their respective cross-sectional geometry were determined for a set of six vertebral cancellous bone specimens (L3–L4 female vertebral bodies; age range 39–63 years). Three-dimensional optical images at a spatial resolution of 20 μm were obtained using an automated serial milling technique. The thickness distributions were generally right skewed. The mean true thickness for both the vertically and horizontally oriented trabeculae showed a strong relationship with volume fraction (vertical: r² = 0.86; p < 0.05; horizontal: r² = 0.80; p < 0.05), and mean trabecular thickness (Tb.Th.) (vertical: r² = 0.81; p < 0.05; horizontal: r² = 0.72; p < 0.05). The horizontal trabeculae were greater in number and were thinner than the vertical trabeculae. The coefficient of variation of the intraspecimen vertical trabecular thicknesses ranged from 25% to 42%, and showed a weak, albeit insignificant, positive correlation with volume fraction (r² = 0.46). The findings demonstrated substantial intraspecimen variations exist in trabecular thickness that are not related to volume fraction. Further studies are recommended to determine the potential role of such intraspecimen variations in architecture on biomechanical properties.

Keywords: Bone; Cancellous; Morphometry; Osteoporosis; Anisotropy

Links

DOI: 10.1016/S8756-3282(99)00161-1

PubMed: 10456392

WoS: 000081842100011

History

Received: 1998-06-16

Revised: 1999-04-28

Accepted: 1999-04-28

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Cited By (17)

Year	Entry
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1999	Yeh OC, Keaveny TM. Biomechanical effects of intraspecimen variations in trabecular architecture: a three-dimensional finite element study. Bone. August 1999;25(2):223-228.
2002	Thomsen JS, Ebbesen EN, Mosekilde L. Age-related differences between thinning of horizontal and vertical trabeculae in human lumbar bone as assessed by a new computerized method. Bone. July 2002;31(1):136-142.
2010	Shi X, Liu XS, Wang X, Guo XE, Niebur GL. Type and orientation of yielded trabeculae during overloading of trabecular bone along orthogonal directions. J Biomech. September 17, 2010;43(13):2460-2466.
2001	Simpson EK, Parkinson IH, Manthey B, Fazzalari NL. Intervertebral disc disorganization is related to trabecular bone architecture in the lumbar spine. J Bone Miner Res. April 2001;16(4):681-687.
2005	Thomsen JS, Laib A, Koller B, Prohaska S, Mosekilde L, Gowin W. Stereological measures of trabecular bone structure: comparison of 3D micro computed tomography with 2D histological sections in human proximal tibial bone biopsies. J Microsc (Oxford). 2005;218(2):171-179.
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2002	Newitt DC, Majumdar S, van Rietbergen B, von Ingersleben G, Harris ST, Genant HK, Chesnut C, Garnero P, MacDonald B. In vivo assessment of architecture and micro-finite element analysis derived indices of mechanical properties of trabecular bone in the radius. Osteoporos Int. January 2002;13(1):6-17.
2003	Bredbenner TL. Damage Modeling of Vertebral Trabecular Bone [PhD thesis]. Cleveland, OH: Case Western Reserve University; January 2003.
2004	İnceoğlu S. Failure of Pedicle Screw-Bone Interface: Biomechanics of Pedicle Screw Insertion and Pullout [PhD thesis]. Cleveland State University; December 2004.
2010	Shi X. Effects of Architecture on Microdamage Susceptibility in Trabecular Bone [PhD thesis]. University of Notre Dame; April 2010.
2005	Buie HR. Use of Finite Element Method Modelling and Rapid Prototyping to Study the Effect of Trabecular Bone Architecture on Apparent Mechanical Properties [Master's thesis]. Queen's University; November 2005.
2014	Bradke BS. The Role of Cortical and Cancellous Bone Quality on Vertebral Fragility [PhD thesis]. Troy, NY: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; April 2014.
2004	Mittra ES. Assessment of Trabecular Bone Quality Using Microstructure, Micro-Mechanics and Micro-Finite Element Modeling [PhD thesis]. Stony Brook, NY: Stony Brook University; May 2004.
2004	McNamara LM. Biomechanical Origins of Osteoporosis [PhD thesis]. Trinity College Dublin; March 2004.
2010	Fields AJ. Trabecular Microarchitecture, Endplate Failure, and the Biomechanics of Human Vertebral Fractures [PhD thesis]. Berkeley, CA: Berkeley, University of California; 2010.