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Prediction of femoral strength using 3D finite element models reconstructed from DXA images: validation against experiments

Grassi, Lorenzo LU orcid ; Vaananen, Sami P. ; Ristinmaa, Matti LU orcid ; Jurvelin, Jukka S. and Isaksson, Hanna LU orcid (2017) In Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology 16(3). p.989-1000
Abstract
Computed tomography (CT)-based finite element (FE) models may improve the current osteoporosis diagnostics and prediction of fracture risk by providing an estimate for femoral strength. However, the need for a CT scan, as opposed to the conventional use of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for osteoporosis diagnostics, is considered a major obstacle. The 3D shape and bone mineral density (BMD) distribution of a femur can be reconstructed using a statistical shape and appearance model (SSAM) and the DXA image of the femur. Then, the reconstructed shape and BMD could be used to build FE models to predict bone strength. Since high accuracy is needed in all steps of the analysis, this study aimed at evaluating the ability of a 3D FE model... (More)
Computed tomography (CT)-based finite element (FE) models may improve the current osteoporosis diagnostics and prediction of fracture risk by providing an estimate for femoral strength. However, the need for a CT scan, as opposed to the conventional use of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for osteoporosis diagnostics, is considered a major obstacle. The 3D shape and bone mineral density (BMD) distribution of a femur can be reconstructed using a statistical shape and appearance model (SSAM) and the DXA image of the femur. Then, the reconstructed shape and BMD could be used to build FE models to predict bone strength. Since high accuracy is needed in all steps of the analysis, this study aimed at evaluating the ability of a 3D FE model built from one 2D DXA image to predict the strains and fracture load of human femora. Three cadaver femora were retrieved, for which experimental measurements from ex vivo mechanical tests were available. FE models were built using the SSAM-based reconstructions: using only the SSAM-reconstructed shape, only the SSAM-reconstructed BMD distribution, and the full SSAM-based reconstruction (including both shape and BMD distribution). When compared with experimental data, the SSAM-based models predicted accurately principal strains (coefficient of determination >0.83, normalized root-mean-square error <16%) and femoral strength (standard error of the estimate 1215 N). These results were only slightly inferior to those obtained with CT-based FE models, but with the considerable advantage of the models being built from DXA images. In summary, the results support the feasibility of SSAM-based models as a practical tool to introduce FE-based bone strength estimation in the current fracture risk diagnostics. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology
volume
16
issue
3
pages
989 - 1000
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:85006970782
  • wos:000400977300018
  • pmid:28004226
ISSN
1617-7940
DOI
10.1007/s10237-016-0866-2
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f425a0f4-8e33-4e6e-9c2a-fd29d8f251ac
date added to LUP
2016-12-23 15:48:01
date last changed
2023-09-12 07:06:30
@article{f425a0f4-8e33-4e6e-9c2a-fd29d8f251ac,
  abstract     = {{Computed tomography (CT)-based finite element (FE) models may improve the current osteoporosis diagnostics and prediction of fracture risk by providing an estimate for femoral strength. However, the need for a CT scan, as opposed to the conventional use of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for osteoporosis diagnostics, is considered a major obstacle. The 3D shape and bone mineral density (BMD) distribution of a femur can be reconstructed using a statistical shape and appearance model (SSAM) and the DXA image of the femur. Then, the reconstructed shape and BMD could be used to build FE models to predict bone strength. Since high accuracy is needed in all steps of the analysis, this study aimed at evaluating the ability of a 3D FE model built from one 2D DXA image to predict the strains and fracture load of human femora. Three cadaver femora were retrieved, for which experimental measurements from ex vivo mechanical tests were available. FE models were built using the SSAM-based reconstructions: using only the SSAM-reconstructed shape, only the SSAM-reconstructed BMD distribution, and the full SSAM-based reconstruction (including both shape and BMD distribution). When compared with experimental data, the SSAM-based models predicted accurately principal strains (coefficient of determination &gt;0.83, normalized root-mean-square error &lt;16%) and femoral strength (standard error of the estimate 1215 N). These results were only slightly inferior to those obtained with CT-based FE models, but with the considerable advantage of the models being built from DXA images. In summary, the results support the feasibility of SSAM-based models as a practical tool to introduce FE-based bone strength estimation in the current fracture risk diagnostics.}},
  author       = {{Grassi, Lorenzo and Vaananen, Sami P. and Ristinmaa, Matti and Jurvelin, Jukka S. and Isaksson, Hanna}},
  issn         = {{1617-7940}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{989--1000}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology}},
  title        = {{Prediction of femoral strength using 3D finite element models reconstructed from DXA images: validation against experiments}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/18602773/Grassi_et_al_2016_Biomechanics_and_Modeling_in_Mechanobiology.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s10237-016-0866-2}},
  volume       = {{16}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}