Micro-CT-Based Large Scale Linear Finite Element Models Predict the Strength of Human Thoracic and Lumbar Vertebral Bodies

Vertebral fractures are among the most common and debilitating fractures. Structural organization of cancellous and cortical bone in a vertebra and their local properties are important factors that determine the strength of a vertebra. Linear finite element models utilizing Quantitative Computed Tomography (QCT) images have proven useful for predicting vertebral strength and are potentially useful in predicting risk of fracture in a clinical setting [1]. However, the amount of architectural detail in these models is not sufficient for studying trabecular stress and strains, and their relationship with the microscopic structure, which is important for understanding the mechanisms behind vertebral fragility.

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Quantitative Computed Tomography-Based Finite Element Models of the Human Lumbar Vertebral Body: Effect of Element Size on Stiffness, Damage, and Fracture Strength Predictions

Journal of Biomechanical Engineering ◽

10.1115/1.1589772 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 125 (4) ◽

pp. 434-438 ◽

Cited By ~ 83

Author(s):

R. Paul Crawford ◽

William S. Rosenberg ◽

Tony M. Keaveny

Keyword(s):

Finite Element ◽

High Resolution ◽

Fracture Strength ◽

Quantitative Computed Tomography ◽

Finite Element Models ◽

Voxel Size ◽

Element Size ◽

Damage And Fracture ◽

Vertebral Bodies ◽

High Resolution Models

This study investigated the numerical convergence characteristics of specimen-specific “voxel-based” finite element models of 14 excised human cadaveric lumbar vertebral bodies (age: 37–87; M=6, F=8) that were generated automatically from clinical-type CT scans. With eventual clinical applications in mind, the ability of the model stiffness to predict the experimentally measured compressive fracture strength of the vertebral bodies was also assessed. The stiffness of “low”-resolution models (3×3×3 mm element size) was on average only 4% greater p=0.03 than for “high”-resolution models (1×1×1.5 mm) despite interspecimen variations that varied over four-fold. Damage predictions using low- vs high-resolution models were significantly different p=0.01 at loads corresponding to an overall strain of 0.5%. Both the high r2=0.94 and low r2=0.92 resolution model stiffness values were highly correlated with the experimentally measured ultimate strength values. Because vertebral stiffness variations in the population are much greater than those that arise from differences in voxel size, these results indicate that imaging resolution is not critical in cross-sectional studies of this parameter. However, longitudinal studies that seek to track more subtle changes in stiffness over time should account for the small but highly significant effects of voxel size. These results also demonstrate that an automated voxel-based finite element modeling technique may provide an excellent noninvasive assessment of vertebral strength.

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Micro-CT based finite element models of cancellous bone predict accurately displacement once the boundary condition is well replicated: A validation study

Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials ◽

10.1016/j.jmbbm.2016.09.014 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 65 ◽

pp. 644-651 ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

Yuan Chen ◽

Enrico Dall׳Ara ◽

Erika Sales ◽

Krishnagoud Manda ◽

Robert Wallace ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Boundary Condition ◽

Finite Element ◽

Cancellous Bone ◽

Validation Study ◽

Finite Element Models ◽

Micro Ct

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To what extent can linear finite element models of human femora predict failure under stance and fall loading configurations?

Journal of Biomechanics ◽

10.1016/j.jbiomech.2014.08.024 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 47 (14) ◽

pp. 3531-3538 ◽

Cited By ~ 81

Author(s):

Enrico Schileo ◽

Luca Balistreri ◽

Lorenzo Grassi ◽

Luca Cristofolini ◽

Fulvia Taddei

Keyword(s):

Finite Element ◽

Finite Element Models ◽

Linear Finite Element

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Single-trabecula building block for large-scale finite element models of cancellous bone

Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing ◽

10.1007/bf02350998 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 42 (4) ◽

pp. 549-556 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

D. Dagan ◽

M. Be'ery ◽

A. Gefen

Keyword(s):

Finite Element ◽

Cancellous Bone ◽

Building Block ◽

Large Scale ◽

Finite Element Models

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Preparation of On-Axis Cylindrical Trabecular Bone Specimens Using Micro-CT Imaging

Journal of Biomechanical Engineering ◽

10.1115/1.1645866 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 126 (1) ◽

pp. 122-125 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Xiang Wang, ◽

Xiangyi Liu, and ◽

Glen L. Niebur

Keyword(s):

Finite Element ◽

High Resolution ◽

Coordinate System ◽

Trabecular Bone ◽

Cylindrical Specimen ◽

Longitudinal Axis ◽

Ct Imaging ◽

Finite Element Models ◽

Micro Ct ◽

Average Deviation

The Orientation of trabecular bone specimens for mechanical testing must be carefully controlled. A method for accurately preparing on-axis cylindrical specimens using high-resolution micro-CT imaging was developed. Sixteen cylindrical specimens were prepared from eight bovine tibiae. High-resolution finite element models were generated from micro-CT images of parallelepipeds and used to determine the principal material coordinate system of each parallelepiped. A cylindrical specimen was then machined with a diamond coring bit. The resulting specimens were scanned again to evaluate the orientation. The average deviation between the principal fabric orientation and the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical specimen was only 4.70±3.11°.

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