Fracture risk in the femoral hip region: A finite element analysis supported experimental approach.
The decrease of bone mineral density (BMD) is a multifactorial bone pathology, commonly referred to as osteoporosis. The subsequent decline of the bone's micro-structural characteristics renders the human skeletal system, and especially the hip, susceptible to fragility fractures. This study represents a systematic attempt to correlate BMD spectrums to the mechanical strength characteristics of the femoral neck and determine a fracture risk indicator based on non-invasive imaging techniques. The BMD of 30 patients' femurs was measured in vivo by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). As these patients were subjected to total hip replacement, the mechanical strength properties of their femurs' were determined ex-vivo using uniaxial compression experiments. FEA simulations facilitated the correlation of the DXA measurements to the apparent fracture risk, indicating critical strain values during complex loading scenarios.
Laboratory for Machine Tools and Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Department, Aristoteles University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece. alextso@auth.gr
Alexander
A
Tsouknidas
Kleovoulos
K
Anagnostidis
Georgios
G
Maliaris
Nikolaos
N
Michailidis
D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors