Using Finite Element Modeling in Bone Mechanoadaptation

Bone adapts structure and material properties in response to its mechanical environment, a process called mechanoadpatation. For the past 50 years, finite element modeling has been used to investigate the relationships between bone geometry, material properties, and mechanical loading conditions. This review examines how we use finite element modeling in the context of bone mechanoadpatation.

Finite element models estimate complex mechanical stimuli at the tissue and cellular levels, help explain experimental results, and inform the design of loading protocols and prosthetics. FE modeling is a powerful tool to study bone adaptation as it complements experimental approaches. Before using FE models, researchers should determine whether simulation results will provide complementary information to experimental or clinical observations and should establish the level of complexity required. As imaging technics and computational capacity continue increasing, we expect FE models to help in designing treatments of bone pathologies that take advantage of mechanoadaptation of bone.