Prediction of proximal femur strength by a quantitative computed tomography-based finite element method--Creation of predicted strength data of the proximal femur according to age range in a normal population.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to investigate the factors that affect the predicted bone strength of proximal femur in Japanese population.


METHODS
Participants (552 men and 273 women) in a health checkup program with computed tomography (CT) at the University of Tokyo Hospital were enrolled in this study. Three-dimensional finite element models of the proximal femur were constructed from CT data of the participants with simultaneous scans of a calibration phantom containing hydroxyapatite rods. Multiple regression analysis was performed to analyze the relationship between the predicted bone strength and clinical factors.


RESULTS
Average predicted strength of proximal femur was lower in women than in men in all age ranges. Predicted bone strength in women under both stance and fall configurations significantly decreased with age, and that in men had the tendency to decrease with age. Body weight positively affected the predicted bone strength in both men and women.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first cross-sectional analysis of the predicted bone strength of the proximal femur in Japanese population of wide age range. Age and body weight critically affected bone strength of proximal femur determined by quantitative CT-based finite element method, in particular in women, under both stance and fall configurations.
a Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo , Japan.
Masako
M
Kaneko
b Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Tokyo Metropolitan Tama Medical Center , Tokyo , Japan.
Isao
I
Ohnishi
c Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Chemotherapy Research Institute Hospital, International University of Health and Welfare , Chiba , Japan.
Takuya
T
Matsumoto
d Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , National Hospital Organization, Sagamihara Hospital , Sagamihara , Japan.
Satoru
S
Ohashi
b Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Tokyo Metropolitan Tama Medical Center , Tokyo , Japan.
Masahiko
M
Bessho
e Department of Computational Diagnostic Radiology and Preventive Medicine , The University of Tokyo Hospital , Tokyo , Japan.
Naoto
N
Hayashi
a Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo , Japan.
Sakae
S
Tanaka
D000058:Accidental Falls; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Bone strength; Finite element method; Fracture; Osteoporosis