[Zurück]

Y. Chevalier, M. Charlebois, P. Varga, D. H. Pahr, P. Heini, E. Schneider, P.K. Zysset:
"A Patient-Specific Finite Element Methodology to Predict Damage Accumulation in Vertebral Bodies under Axial Compression, Sagittal Flexion and Combined Loads";
Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, 11 (2008), 5; S. 477 - 487.

Due to the inherent limitations of DXA, assessment of the biomechanical properties of vertebral bodies relies increasingly
on CT-based finite element (FE) models, but these often use simplistic material behaviour and/or single loading cases. In this
study, we applied a novel constitutive law for bone elasticity, plasticity and damage to FE models created from coarsened
pQCT images of human vertebrae, and compared vertebral stiffness, strength and damage accumulation for axial
compression, anterior flexion and a combination of these two cases. FE axial stiffness and strength correlated with
experiments and were linearly related to flexion properties. In all loading modes, damage localised preferentially in the
trabecular compartment. Damage for the combined loading was higher than cumulated damage produced by individual
compression and flexion. In conclusion, this FE method predicts stiffness and strength of vertebral bodies from CT images
with clinical resolution and provides insight into damage accumulation in various loading modes.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10255840802078022