Impact of Thresholding Techniques on Micro-CT Image Based Computational Models of Trabecular Bone

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark J. Eichler ◽  
Chi Hyun Kim ◽  
Ralph Müller ◽  
X. Edward Guo

Abstract Age-related bone fractures are mostly influenced by trabecular bone sites. Trabecular bone constantly adapts its bone volume fraction (BV/TV) and orientation, and thus its mechanical properties, to mechanical usage. Therefore, understanding the trabecular bone adaptation process and its consequences will contribute to the better understanding of the etiology of age-related fractures. Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is a relatively new method to quantify the complex three-dimensional (3D) trabecular bone architecture [1,2]. Finite element computational studies can be performed on these 3D microstructural images by converting each image voxel into an element [3,4,5]. Image thresholding techniques to segment bone voxels from bone marrow voxels have a major impact on the results of these models. However, the influence of different types of thresholding techniques on the mechanical properties of bone has not been examined carefully.

2006 ◽  
Vol 129 (4) ◽  
pp. 481-486 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chi Hyun Kim ◽  
Henry Zhang ◽  
George Mikhail ◽  
Dietrich von Stechow ◽  
Ralph Müller ◽  
...  

Microimaging based finite element analysis is widely used to predict the mechanical properties of trabecular bone. The choice of thresholding technique, a necessary step in converting grayscale images to finite element models, can significantly influence the predicted bone volume fraction and mechanical properties. Therefore, we investigated the effects of thresholding techniques on microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) based finite element models of trabecular bone. Three types of thresholding techniques were applied to 16-bit micro-CT images of trabecular bone to create three different models per specimen. Bone volume fractions and apparent moduli were predicted and compared to experimental results. In addition, trabecular tissue mechanical parameters and morphological parameters were compared among different models. Our findings suggest that predictions of apparent mechanical properties and structural properties agree well with experimental measurements regardless of the choice of thresholding methods or the format of micro-CT images.


Author(s):  
Xiaowei S. Liu ◽  
X. Henry Zhang ◽  
Paul Sajda ◽  
Punam K. Saha ◽  
Felix W. Wehrli ◽  
...  

Osteoporosis is an age-related disease characterized by low bone mass and architectural deterioration. Other than bone volume fraction (BV/TV), microarchitecture of trabecular bone, such as trabecular type (rods or plates), connectivity, and orientation of the trabecular network is also believed to be important in governing the mechanical properties of trabecular bone. A recent study [1] showed that the microarchitecture alone affects elastic moduli of trabecular bone and, further, that trabecular plates make a far greater contribution than rods. In human vertebral trabecular bone, the roles of transverse vs. vertical rods in conferring mechanical properties of trabecular bone have been debated [2, 3]. It has been suggested that the role of transverse trabecular rod is critical in determining elastic modulus of vertebral trabecular bone. However, without explicit classifications of trabecular type, or orientation assessment at an individual trabecula level, it is not possible yet to test this hypothesis in human trabecular bone samples despite the development of three-dimensional (3D) micro computed tomography (μCT) and μCT based finite element (FE) models of human trabecular bone. With the newly developed technique of complete volumetric decomposition and individual trabecula based orientation analyses [4], now it is possible to quantitatively examine the contributions of trabecular rods of various orientations in the elastic properties of vertebral trabecular bone.


2006 ◽  
Vol 321-323 ◽  
pp. 1070-1073
Author(s):  
Ye Yeon Won ◽  
Myong Hyun Baek ◽  
Wen Quan Cui ◽  
Kwang Kyun Kim

This study investigates micro-structural and mechanical properties of trabecular bone in human femoral head with and without osteoporosis using a micro-CT and a finite element model. 15 cored trabecular bone specimens with 20 of diameter were obtained from femoral heads with osteoporosis resected for total hip arthroplasty, and 5 specimens were removed from femoral head of cadavers, which has no history of musculoskeletal diseases. A high-resolution micro-CT system was used to scan each specimen to obtain histomorphometry indexes. Based on the micro-images, a FE-model was created to determine mechanical property indexes. While the non-osteoporosis group had increases the trabecular thickness, the bone volume, the bone volume fraction, the degree of anisotropy and the trabecular number compared with those of osteoporotic group, the non-osteoporotic group showed decreases in trabecular separation and structure model index. Regarding the mechanical property indexes, the reaction force and the Young's modulus were lower in the osteoporotic group than in non-osteoporotic group. Our data shows salient deteriorations in trabecular micro-structural and mechanical properties in human femoral head with osteoporosis.


1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark J. Eichler ◽  
Chi Hyun Kim ◽  
X. Edward Guo

Abstract The role of mechanical loading in trabecular bone adaptation is important for the understanding of bone integrity in different loading scenarios such as microgravity and for the etiology of age-related bone fractures. There have been numerous in vivo animal studies of bone adaptation, most of which are related to cortical bone remodeling, aimed at the investigation of Wolff’s Law [4], An interesting experimental model for trabecular bone adaptation has been developed in the rat tail vertebrae [2,3]. This model is attractive for trabecular bone adaptation studies because a controlled mechanical load can be applied to a whole vertebra with minimal surgical trauma, using a relatively inexpensive animal model. In addition, with advanced micro computed tomography (micro-CT) or micro magnetic resonance imaging (micro-MRI) coupled with large scale finite element modeling techniques, it is possible to characterize the three-dimensional (3D) stress/strain environment in the bone tissue close to a cellular level (∼25μm) [1]. Therefore, this in vivo rat tail model has a tremendous potential for quantification of the relationship between mechanical stimulation and biological response in trabecular bone adaptation.


2005 ◽  
Vol 874 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Weinkamer ◽  
Markus A. Hartmann ◽  
Yves Brechet ◽  
Peter Fratzl

AbstractUsing a stochastic lattice model we have studied the architectural changes of trabecular bone occurring while the structure is remodeled. Our model considers the mechanical feedback loop, which control the remodeling process. A fast algorithm was employed to solve approximately the mechanical problem. A general feature of the model is that a networklike structure emerges, which further coarsens while the bone volume fraction remains unchanged. Decreasing the mechanical response of the system by either lowering the external load or the internal mechano-sensitivity leads not only to a reduction of the bone volume fraction, but results in topological changes of the trabecular bone architecture, where the loss of horizontal trabeculae is the most obvious effect.


2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Srinidhi Nagaraja ◽  
Hassan K. Awada ◽  
Maureen L. Dreher ◽  
John T. Bouck ◽  
Shikha Gupta

OBJECT The aim in this study was to quantify the effects of vertebroplasty on endplate subsidence in treated and adjacent vertebrae and their relationship to endplate thickness and underlying trabecular bone in elderly female spines. METHODS Vertebral compression fractures were created in female cadaveric (age range 51–88 years) thoracolumbar spine segments. Specimens were placed into either the control or vertebroplasty group (n = 9/group) such that bone mineral density, trabecular microarchitecture, and age were statistically similar between groups. For the vertebroplasty group, polymethylmethacrylate bone cement was injected into the fractured vertebral body under fluoroscopy. Cyclic compression (685–1370 N sinusoid) was performed on all spine segments for 115,000 cycles. Micro-CT scans were obtained before and after cyclic loading to quantify endplate subsidence. Maximum subsidence was compared between groups in the caudal endplate of the superior adjacent vertebra (SVcau); cranial (TVcra) and caudal (TVcau) endplates of the treated vertebra; and the cranial endplate of the inferior adjacent vertebra (IVcra). In addition, micro-CT images were used to quantify average endplate thickness and trabecular bone volume fraction. These parameters were then correlated with maximum endplate subsidence for each endplate. RESULTS The maximum subsidence in SVcau endplate for the vertebroplasty group (0.34 ± 0.58 mm) was significantly (p < 0.05) greater than for the control group (−0.13 ± 0.27 mm). Maximum subsidence in the TVcra, TVcau, and IVcra endplates were greater in the vertebroplasty group, but these differences were not significant (p > 0.16). Increased subsidence in the vertebroplasty group manifested locally in the anterior region of the SVcau endplate and in the posterior region of the TVcra and TVcau endplates (p < 0.10). Increased subsidence was observed in thinner endplates with lower trabecular bone volume fraction for both vertebroplasty and control groups (R2 correlation up to 62%). In the SVcau endplate specifically, these 2 covariates aided in understanding subsidence differences between vertebroplasty and control groups. CONCLUSIONS Bone cement injected during vertebroplasty alters local biomechanics in elderly female spines, resulting in increased endplate disruption in treated and superior adjacent vertebrae. More specifically, bone cement increases subsidence in the posterior regions of the treated endplates and the anterior region of the superior caudal endplate. This increased subsidence may be the initial mechanism leading to subsequent compression fractures after vertebroplasty, particularly in vertebrae superior to the treated level.


2002 ◽  
Vol 35 (8) ◽  
pp. 1091-1099 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurent Pothuaud ◽  
Bert Van Rietbergen ◽  
Lis Mosekilde ◽  
Olivier Beuf ◽  
Pierre Levitz ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 137 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jarunan Panyasantisuk ◽  
Dieter H. Pahr ◽  
Thomas Gross ◽  
Philippe K. Zysset

Mechanical properties of human trabecular bone play an important role in age-related bone fragility and implant stability. Microfinite element (μFE) analysis allows computing the apparent elastic properties of trabecular bone for use in homogenized FE (hFE) analysis, but the results depend unfortunately on the type of applied boundary conditions (BCs). In this study, 167 human femoral trabecular cubic regions with a side length of 5.3 mm were extracted from three proximal femora and analyzed using μFE analysis to compare systematically their stiffness with kinematic uniform BCs (KUBCs) and periodicity-compatible mixed uniform BCs (PMUBCs). The obtained elastic constants were then used in the volume fraction and fabric-based orthotropic Zysset–Curnier model to identify their respective model parameters. As expected, PMUBCs lead to more compliant apparent elastic properties than KUBCs, especially in shear. The differences in stiffness decreased with bone volume fraction and mean intercept length (MIL). Unlike KUBCs, PMUBCs were sensitive to heterogeneity of the biopsies. The Zysset–Curnier model fitted the apparent elastic constants successfully in both cases with adjusted coefficients of determination (radj2) of 0.986 for KUBCs and 0.975 for PMUBCs. The proper use of these BCs for hFE analysis of whole bones will need to be investigated in future work.


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