title: Large-scale microstructural simulation of load-adaptive bone remodeling in whole human vertebrae.
abstract: Identification of individuals at risk of bone fractures remains challenging despite recent advances in bone strength assessment. In particular, the future degradation of the microstructure and load adaptation has been disregarded. Bone remodeling simulations have so far been restricted to small-volume samples. Here, we present a large-scale framework for predicting microstructural adaptation in whole human vertebrae. The load-adaptive bone remodeling simulations include estimations of appropriate bone loading of three load cases as boundary conditions with microfinite element analysis. Homeostatic adaptation of whole human vertebrae over a simulated period of 10 years is achieved with changes in bone volume fraction (BV/TV) of less than 5%. Evaluation on subvolumes shows that simplifying boundary conditions reduces the ability of the system to maintain trabecular structures when keeping remodeling parameters unchanged. By rotating the loading direction, adaptation toward new loading conditions could be induced. This framework shows the possibility of using large-scale bone remodeling simulations toward a more accurate prediction of microstructural changes in whole human bones.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biomechanics, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sandro D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Badilatti
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biomechanics, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Patrik
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Christen
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biomechanics, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Levchuk
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Biomechanics, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Javad Hazrati
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Marangalou
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Biomechanics, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: van Rietbergen
authors.affiliation: SA Pathology and University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Parkinson
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biomechanics, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland. ram@ethz.ch.
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000465:Algorithms; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000502:physiology*; D019245:Compressive Strength; D003198:Computer Simulation; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D013131:Spine / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Bone adaptation; Bone loading estimation; Bone remodeling simulations; Human vertebra; Microfinite element modeling