ABSTRACT
The diagnosis of bone fracture risk is usually based on measurements of bone density alone, since this is the only parameter that can be routinely measured in vivo. However, the fracture risk is also determined by the bone microarchitecture and loading conditions.
Recently, new imaging techniques and new large-scale finite element (FE) techniques have been developed. The imaging techniques allow the assessment of the bone microarchitecture, whereas the FE-techniques allow the assessment of mechanical properties and tissue stresses of bones. In this paper, it is aimed to evaluate the feasibility of these new techniques for the assessment of bone quality and fracture risk. Two applications of these new techniques are demonstrated. In a first study, a micro-CT scanner was used to generate computer reconstructions of 58 bone specimens at a resolution of 28 μm. Using these reconstructions as the geometry input for large-scale FE-analyses, it was possible to obtain all elastic properties for each specimen. In a second study, a 3-D pQCT scanner was used to generate a computer reconstruction of a radius end section at a resolution of 165 μm. Using a FE-model generated from this reconstruction, it was possible to calculate the tissue stresses during a fall. It is concluded that, compared to standard methods, the new techniques can provide unique and more complete information for the prediction of bone fracture risk.
