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Compressive fatigue behavior of human vertebral trabecular bone.
Laurent Rapillard1, Mathieu Charlebois, Philippe K Zysset
1Laboratory of Bone Biomechanics, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Journal of Biomechanics
|July 30, 2005
Summary
Trabecular bone fatigue life under compression is predictable using a simple power relationship involving volume fraction and anisotropy. This finding aids in understanding age-related vertebral fractures.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Biomaterials Science
- Mechanical Engineering
Background:
- Age-related vertebral fractures are linked to damage accumulation from compressive fatigue loading.
- Limited research exists on trabecular bone fatigue under compression, especially concerning architectural influences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between trabecular bone architecture and fatigue life under compressive loading.
- To develop a predictive model for trabecular bone fatigue life based on morphology and applied stress.
Main Methods:
- Microcomputed tomography (microCT) scanning of human vertebral trabecular bone samples (n=29).
- Compressive fatigue testing to determine cycles to failure.
- Development and validation of a power-law relationship incorporating volume fraction and fabric eigenvalues.
Main Results:
- A strong correlation (R2=0.95) was found for the proposed power relationship.
- The degree of anisotropy significantly contributed to predicting fatigue life.
- Volume fraction showed a weak but significant correlation with total and residual strains at failure.
Conclusions:
- Applied stress, normalized by volume fraction and axial fabric eigenvalue, can estimate vertebral trabecular bone fatigue life.
- Trabecular architecture, particularly anisotropy, is crucial for predicting fatigue behavior.
- This model offers insights into non-traumatic, age-related vertebral fractures.