title: Damage Identification on Vertebral Bodies During Compressive Loading Using Digital Image Correlation.
abstract: MINI: Identifying fracture is important for understanding vertebral mechanics. Isolated cadaveric thoracolumbar vertebrae were compressed, and surface strains were measured using digital image correlation. Fracture locations from video analysis were qualitatively similar to the locations of high compressive strains and local damage occurred before the maximum force was reached.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ex vivo compression experiments on isolated cadaveric vertebrae.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To qualitatively compare the fracture locations identified in video analysis with the locations of high compressive strain measured with digital image correlation (DIC) on vertebral bodies and to evaluate the timing of local damage to the cortical shell relative to the global yield force.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  In previous ex vivo experiments, cortical bone fracture has been identified using various methods including acoustic emission sensors, strain gages, video analysis, or force signals. These methods are, however, limited in their ability to detect the location and timing of fracture. We propose use of DIC, a noncontact optical technique that measures surface displacement, to quantify variables related to damage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Isolated thoracolumbar human cadaveric vertebral bodies (n = 6) were tested in compression to failure at a quasi-static rate, and the force applied was measured using a load cell. The surface displacement and strain were measured using DIC. Video analysis was performed to identify fractures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The location of fractures identified in the video corresponded well with the locations of high compressive strain on the bone. Before reaching the global yield force, more than 10% of the DIC measurements reached a minimum principal strain of 1.0%, a previously reported threshold for cortical bone damage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DIC measurements provide an objective measure that can be used to identify the location and timing of fractures during ex vivo vertebral experiments. This is important for understanding fracture mechanics and for validating vertebral computational models that incorporate failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  N /A.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.|International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Hannah M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Gustafson
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.|International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Angela D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Melnyk
authors.affiliation: MEA Forensic Engineers & Scientists, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.|School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Gunter P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Siegmund
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.|International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Cripton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D019245:Compressive Strength / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology