Analysis on correlation between bone strength by FEA, micro-CT parameters and bone mineral density / 대한구강악안면방사선학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone microarchitecture are important determinants for bone strength. Recently micro-CT have provided possibilities for measuring a variety of structural indices to characterize bone microarchitecture. The objective of this study was to compare the BMD and micro-CT parameters with Young's modulus calculated by finite element analysis (FEA) for the evaluation of bone strength. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bone specimens were obtained from the 18 female rabbits aged 16 weeks. Of those, 36 samples (right and left femur) were selected for 3D micro-CT analysis (ANTTM, SKYSCAN, Belgium) and BMD by PIXImus 2 (GE Lunar Co. USA). Five microstructural parameters of micro-CT, such as trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), bone specific surface (BS/BV), percent bone volume (BV/TV), structure model index (SMI) and degree of anisotropy (DOA) were studied. Young's modulus was obtained by software program (ANSYS 9.0, ANSYS Inc, Canonsburg, PA) based on micro-CT three dimensional images. RESULTS: Young's modulus assessed by FEA correlated significantly with Tb.Th, BV/TV, BS/BV and SMI respectively. Young's modulus showed higher correlation with these microstructural parameters of micro-CT than BMD. Microstructural parameters except DOA showed significant correlations within the examined group. CONCLUSION: The microarchitectural parameters of micro-CT and BMD represented some informations in the evaluation of bone strength assessed by FEA.