Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 30, 2026
07:30
3D Printing Model of a Patient's Specific Lumbar Vertebra
Published on: April 14, 2023
2.6K
Elevated Microdamage Spatially Correlates with Stress in Metastatic Vertebrae.
Ayelet Atkins1, Mikhail Burke1,2, Saeid Samiezadeh1
1Orthopaedics Biomechanics Laboratory, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Annals of Biomedical Engineering
|January 24, 2019
Summary
Spinal metastases significantly degrade bone quality, increasing vertebral microdamage under load. This study reveals distinct damage patterns in osteolytic and mixed metastases, highlighting compromised bone integrity in cancer patients.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Oncology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Spinal metastases negatively affect bone quality.
- Understanding vertebral microdamage is crucial for managing skeletal complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize vertebral microdamage in metastatic bone disease.
- To correlate microdamage patterns with mechanical stress and strain.
- To assess the impact of metastatic cancer on bone quality.
Main Methods:
- Created osteolytic and mixed metastases in athymic rats.
- Utilized micro-computed tomography (µCT) and barium sulfate (BaSO4) staining for microdamage visualization.
- Applied axial compression loading to simulate physiological stress.
- Generated micro-finite element (µFE) models to analyze stress and strain distribution.
- Quantitatively compared microdamage with µFEA results using ANOVA.
Main Results:
- Microdamage identified by BaSO4 staining spatially correlated with high-stress regions predicted by µFEA.
- Load-induced microdamage was significantly elevated in vertebrae with osteolytic and mixed metastases.
- Metastatic bone exhibited diffuse, cross-hatched, and linear microdamage, along with microfractures, indicating reduced bone quality.
Conclusions:
- Spinal metastases lead to significant vertebral microdamage.
- The pattern of microdamage is influenced by the type of metastatic lesion (osteolytic vs. mixed).
- Cancer-induced changes in bone compromise structural integrity and increase susceptibility to fracture.
Related Concept Videos
01:30General Structure of a Vertebra
6.2K
A typical vertebra, with the exception of the sacrum and coccyx, consists of a body, a vertebral arch, and seven different projections termed processes. The anterior portion of the vertebrae, the body, supports about half the body’s weight. The vertebral bodies progressively increase in size and thickness from the cervical region to the lumbar region of the vertebral column. The intervertebral discs present between the bodies of adjacent vertebrae firmly unites them, forming a continuous...
6.2K
03:12Freezing Point Depression and Boiling Point Elevation
40.0K
Boiling Point Elevation
The boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which its vapor pressure is equal to ambient atmospheric pressure. Since the vapor pressure of a solution is lowered due to the presence of nonvolatile solutes, it stands to reason that the solution’s boiling point will subsequently be increased. Vapor pressure increases with temperature, and so a solution will require a higher temperature than will pure solvent to achieve any given vapor pressure, including one...
The boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which its vapor pressure is equal to ambient atmospheric pressure. Since the vapor pressure of a solution is lowered due to the presence of nonvolatile solutes, it stands to reason that the solution’s boiling point will subsequently be increased. Vapor pressure increases with temperature, and so a solution will require a higher temperature than will pure solvent to achieve any given vapor pressure, including one...
40.0K
02:20Correlations
35.9K
Correlation means that there is a relationship between two or more variables (such as ice cream consumption and crime), but this relationship does not necessarily imply cause and effect. When two variables are correlated, it simply means that as one variable changes, so does the other. We can measure correlation by calculating a statistic known as a correlation coefficient. A correlation coefficient is a number from -1 to +1 that indicates the strength and direction of the relationship between...
35.9K
01:27Correlation and Causation
42.5K
Statistical tests can calculate whether there is a relationship, or correlation, between independent and dependent variables. An indirect relationship of the variables signifies a correlation, while a direct relationship shows causation. If it is determined that no connection exists between the variables, then the correlation is a coincidence.
Correlation versus Causation
If the dependent variable increases or decreases when the independent variable increases, there is a positive or negative...
Correlation versus Causation
If the dependent variable increases or decreases when the independent variable increases, there is a positive or negative...
42.5K
01:09Correlation
15.1K
In statistics, two variables are said to be correlated if the values of one variable are associated with the other variable. Depending on the relationship between two variables, correlation can be of three types– positive correlation, negative correlation, and zero correlation.
Two variables, for example, a and b, are said to be positively correlated if both variables move in the same direction. In other words, a positive correlation exists between two variables, a and b, if:
Two variables, for example, a and b, are said to be positively correlated if both variables move in the same direction. In other words, a positive correlation exists between two variables, a and b, if:
15.1K
01:20Elevation of Intermediate Points on Vertical Curves
289
Vertical curves are essential in roadway design because they provide smooth transitions between varying roadway grades. Designing vertical curves involves calculating intermediate elevations and identifying the curve's highest or lowest point, which is essential for optimal roadway performance.Intermediate elevations on a vertical curve are determined using the tangent offset method. This method considers the initial elevation at the start of the curve, the grades, and the curve's geometry. The...
289