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Creep of trabecular bone from the human proximal tibia
Ekaterina Novitskaya1, Carolyn Zin2, Neil Chang3
1Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, UC, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Materials Science and Engineering Program, UC, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
Bone creep, a deformation under sustained load, was studied in human trabecular bone. Lower density samples exhibited higher creep rates, with bending trabeculae as a primary deformation mode.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Materials Science
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Creep is bone deformation under prolonged load, potentially causing permanent damage.
- Bone creep is complex, influenced by loading type and local mechanical properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate creep deformation and damage in human trabecular bone from an osteoporotic donor.
- To analyze the relationship between bone density, architecture, and creep behavior.
Main Methods:
- Human trabecular bone samples were subjected to creep testing under constant stress.
- Micro-computed tomography (μCT) was used for pre- and post-testing architectural analysis.
- Mechanical testing determined steady-state creep rate and final creep strain.
Main Results:
- Steady-state creep rates correlated with published data for bovine and human bone.
- Lower density bone samples showed higher creep rates.
- Creep induced changes in trabecular separation and structural model index, with bending as a main deformation mode.
Conclusions:
- Trabecular bone creep is density-dependent.
- Microstructural changes, particularly trabecular bending, characterize creep deformation in osteoporotic bone.
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