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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol.
Sec. Biomechanics
Volume 12 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1448708
This article is part of the Research Topic Biomechanics in Orthopaedic Diseases and Surgery, Volume II View all 3 articles

Regional Impact of Structural Deterioration and Tissue-Level Compensation in Proximal Femur Trabecular Mechanics

Provisionally accepted
Chenglong Feng Chenglong Feng Ke Zhang Ke Zhang Shi Zhan Shi Zhan YuXiong Gan YuXiong Gan Xinhao Xiang Xinhao Xiang Wenxin Niu Wenxin Niu *
  • Medical School, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Introduction: Osteoporosis-induced changes in bone structure and composition significantly reduce bone strength, particularly in the human proximal femur. This study examines how these changes affect the mechanical performance of trabecular bone to enhance diagnosis, prevention, and treatment strategies. Methods: A proximal femur sample was scanned using micro-CT at 40 μm resolution. Five regions of interest were selected within the femoral head, femoral neck, and greater trochanter. Structural models simulating various stages of osteoporosis were created using image processing software. Micro-finite element analysis evaluated the mechanical properties of trabecular bone under different conditions of structural deterioration and tissue-level elastic modulus variations. The combined effects of structural deterioration and tissue-level mechanical properties on trabecular bone mechanical performance were further analyzed. Results: The mechanical performance of trabecular bone generally follows a power-law relationship with its microstructural characteristics. However, in any specific region, the apparent mechanical properties linearly decrease with structural deterioration. The femoral neck and greater trochanter are more sensitive to structural deterioration than the femoral head. A 5% bone mass loss in the femoral head led to a 7% reduction in mechanical performance, while the femoral neck experienced a 12% loss. Increasing tissue-level elastic modulus improved mechanical performance, partially offsetting bone mass reduction effects. Conclusion: Trabecular bone in low bone mass regions is more affected by bone mass loss. Structural deterioration primarily reduces bone strength, but improvements in tissue-level properties can mitigate this effect, especially in early osteoporosis. Targeted assessments and interventions are crucial for effective management. Future research should explore heterogeneous deterioration models to better understand osteoporosis progression.

    Keywords: Osteoporosis, trabecular bone mechanics, Proximal femur, Structural deterioration, tissue-level mechanical property

    Received: 13 Jun 2024; Accepted: 27 Aug 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Feng, Zhang, Zhan, Gan, Xiang and Niu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Wenxin Niu, Medical School, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.