The relationship between loading conditions and fracture patterns of the proximal femur

Yang, K. H.; Shen, K.-L.; Demetropoulos, C. K.; King, A. I.; Kolodziej, P.; Levine, R. S.; Fitzgerald, Jr, R. H.

Affiliations

¹Bioengineering Center, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201

²Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201

Abstract

In an attempt to test the hypothesis of spontaneous hip fracture, seven pairs of femurs, with ages ranging from 59 to 90, were tested under two loading conditions designed to simulate muscular contraction. Simulated iliopsoas contraction produced femoral neck fractures at an average normalized ultimate load of 5.2 ± 0.8 times body weight. Simulated gluteus medius contraction produced sub-/inter-trochanteric fractures at an average normalized ultimate load of 4.1 ± 0.6 times body weight. The average ultimate load for all specimens was 3040 ± 720 N. Fracture patterns produced by both loading conditions were clinically relevant. The results from this study suggest that abnormal contraction produced by major rotator muscles could induce hip fracture.

Links

DOI: 10.1115/1.2796045

PubMed: 8950662

WoS: A1996VX04300018

History

Received: 1994-03-30

Revised: 1995-09-23

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Cited By (15)

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2007	Cristofolini L, Juszczyk M, Martelli S, Taddei F, Viceconti M. In vitro replication of spontaneous fractures of the proximal human femur. J Biomech. 2007;40(13):2837-2845.
2008	Schileo E, Taddei F, Cristofolini L, Viceconti M. Subject-specific finite element models implementing a maximum principal strain criterion are able to estimate failure risk and fracture location on human femurs tested in vitro. J Biomech. 2008;41(2):356-367.
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2005	Cao KD. Development of a 4-Vertebrae, Detailed Finite Element Model of Thoracolumbar Spine [PhD thesis]. Detroit, MI: Wayne State University; August 2005.