Cortical bone finite element models in the estimation of experimentally measured failure loads in the proximal femur.

Highly accurate nonlinear finite element (FE) models have been presented to estimate bone fracture load. However, these complex models require high computational capacity, which restricts their clinical applicability. The objective of this experimental FE study was to assess the predictive value of a more simple cortical bone simulation model in the estimation of experimentally measured fracture load of the proximal femur. The prediction was compared with that of DXA, and with the prediction of our previous, more complex FE model including trabecular bone. Sixty-one formalin-fixed cadaver femora (from 41 women and 20 men, age 55-100 years) were scanned using a multi-detector CT and were mechanically tested for failure in a sideways fall loading configuration. Trabecular bone was completely removed from the FE models and only cortical bone was analyzed. The training set FE models (N=21) was used to establish the stress and strain thresholds for the element failure criteria. Bi-linear elastoplastic FE analysis was performed based on the CT images. The validation set (N=40) was used to estimate the fracture load. The estimated fracture load values were highly correlated with the experimental data (r(2)=0.73; p<0.001). The slope was 1.128, with an intercept of -360 N, which was not significantly different from 1 and 0, respectively. DXA-based BMD and BMC correlated moderately with the fracture load (r(2)=0.41 and r(2)=0.40, respectively). The study shows that the proximal femoral failure load in a sideways fall configuration can be estimated with reasonable accuracy by using the CT-based bi-linear elastoplastic cortical bone FE model. This model was more predictive for fracture load than DXA and only slightly less accurate than a full bone FE model including trabecular bone. The accuracy and calculation time of the model give promises for clinical use.

Ct-based finite element models can be used to estimate experimentally measured failure loads in the proximal femur.

The objective of this experimental finite element (FE) study was to assess the accuracy of a simulation model estimate of the experimentally measured fracture load of the proximal femur in a sideways fall. Sixty-one formalin-fixed cadaver femora (41 female and 20 male) aged 55-100 years (an average of 80 years) were scanned with a multi-detector CT scanner and were mechanically tested for failure in a sideways fall loading configuration. Twenty-one of these femurs were used for training purposes, and 40 femurs were used for validation purposes. The training set FE models were used to establish the strain threshold for the element failure criteria. Bi-linear elastoplastic FE analysis was performed based on the CT images. The validation set was used to estimate the fracture loads. The Drucker-Prager criterion was applied to determine the yielding and the maximum principal stress criteria and the minimum principal strain criteria for element failure in tension and in compression, respectively. The estimated fracture load values were highly correlated with the experimental data (r=0.931; p<0.001). The slope was 0.929, with an intercept of 258 N, which was not significantly different from 1 and 0, respectively. The study shows that it is possible to estimate the fracture load with relatively high accuracy in a sideways fall configuration by using the CT-based FE method. This method may therefore be applied for studying the biomechanical mechanisms of hip fractures.

Does femoral strain distribution coincide with the occurrence of cervical versus trochanteric hip fractures? An experimental finite element study.

The objective of this experimental finite element (FE) study is to test the hypothesis that strain distributions coincide with the occurrence of cervical versus trochanteric hip fractures during loading conditions simulating a sideways fall, and that the cervical versus trochanteric principal strain ratio predicts different fracture patterns. Cadaver femora (female, 83 +/- 9 years) were CT scanned and mechanically tested simulating a fall. Thirteen cervical and 13 trochanteric fracture cases were selected for FE analysis. Principal strain distributions were analysed, and strain ratio epsilon(C)/epsilon(T) for strain patterns over the cervical and trochanteric regions was computed. The ratio epsilon(C)/epsilon(T) in the femora with cervical fractures (mean +/- SD 1.103 +/- 0.127) differed from that in trochanteric fractures (0.925 +/- 0.137) (p = 0.001). The significant difference in the strain ratio between fracture types remained after accounting for femoral neck and trochanteric BMD (p = 0.014), showing that it is independent of BMD. Area under the ROC curve was 0.858 in the discrimination of fracture types. The model predicted the experimental fracture type correctly in 22 of 26 cases. The cervical versus trochanteric region principal strain ratio differed significantly between femora with experimental cervical versus trochanteric fractures, and 85% agreement was achieved for the occurrence of hip fracture types using a simple FE model.