A novel methodology for generating 3D finite element models of the hip from 2D radiographs

Finite element (FE) modelling has been proposed as a tool for estimating fracture risk and patient-specific FE models are commonly based on computed tomography (CT). Here, we present a novel method to automatically create personalised 3D models from standard 2D hip radiographs. A set of geometrical parameters of the femur were determined from seven a–p hip radiographs and compared to the 3D femoral shape obtained from CT as training material; the error in reconstructing the 3D model from the 2D radiographs was assessed. Using the geometry parameters as the input, the 3D shape of another 21 femora was built and meshed, separating a cortical and trabecular compartment. The material properties were derived from the homogeneity index assessed by texture analysis of the radiographs, with focus on the principal tensile and compressive trabecular systems. The ability of these FE models to predict failure load as determined by experimental biomechanical testing was evaluated and compared to the predictive ability of DXA. The average reconstruction error of the 3D models was 1.77 mm (±1.17 mm), with the error being smallest in the femoral head and neck, and greatest in the trochanter. The correlation of the FE predicted failure load with the experimental failure load was r²=64% for the reconstruction FE model, which was significantly better (p<0.05) than that for DXA (r²=24%). This novel method for automatically constructing a patient-specific 3D finite element model from standard 2D radiographs shows encouraging results in estimating patient-specific failure loads.     

Computed tomography and automated image analysis of prehistoric femora

Non-invasive characterization of limb bone cross-sectional geometry would be useful for biomechanical analyses of skeletal collections. Computed tomography (CT) is potentially the method of choice. Additionally, CT images are suitable for automated analysis. CT is here shown to be both accurate and precise in the analysis of cross-sectional geometry of prehistoric femora. Beam hardening artifacts can be reduced by using a water bath. As the availability of CT for research increases, both bone density and geometry could be determined simultaneously with this method.     

Specimen-specific modeling of hip fracture pattern and repair

Hip fracture remains a major health problem for the elderly. Clinical studies have assessed fracture risk based on bone quality in the aging population and cadaveric testing has quantified bone strength and fracture loads. Prior modeling has primarily focused on quantifying the strain distribution in bone as an indicator of fracture risk. Recent advances in the extended finite element method (XFEM) enable prediction of the initiation and propagation of cracks without requiring a priori knowledge of the crack path. Accordingly, the objectives of this study were to predict femoral fracture in specimen-specific models using the XFEM approach, to perform one-to-one comparisons of predicted and in vitro fracture patterns, and to develop a framework to assess the mechanics and load transfer in the fractured femur when it is repaired with an osteosynthesis implant. Five specimen-specific femur models were developed from in vitro experiments under a simulated stance loading condition. Predicted fracture patterns closely matched the in vitro patterns; however, predictions of fracture load differed by approximately 50% due to sensitivity to local material properties. Specimen-specific intertrochanteric fractures were induced by subjecting the femur models to a sideways fall and repaired with a contemporary implant. Under a post-surgical stance loading, model-predicted load sharing between the implant and bone across the fracture surface varied from 59%:41% to 89%:11%, underscoring the importance of considering anatomic and fracture variability in the evaluation of implants. XFEM modeling shows potential as a macro-level analysis enabling fracture investigations of clinical cohorts, including at-risk groups, and the design of robust implants.     

股骨骨折术后1年随访骨愈合模型的有限元分析

目的：对股骨骨折髓内钉术后1年骨愈合模型快速建模,通过有限元分析研究对比术前术后模型,通过术前判定内固定取出后骨折断端是否断裂。方法：运用Mimics、Geomagic Studio、Abaqus等软件采用快速个体化建模方法对股骨骨折髓内钉术后1年内固定取出术前后的多层螺旋CT数据进行快速建立模型,术前模型模拟剥除钢板后进行有限元分析,施加人体单腿站立时的静力载荷和约束,并将分析结果与术后模型进行对比,观察米塞斯应力分布情况、最大值及其所处部位。结果：按照材料属性进行区别显示米赛斯应力的最大值及最小值,在不同应力载荷下,手术前后各类型材料的米赛斯应力最大值及最小值部位相同,各类型材料中,最大值均没有位于骨折断端,不同方法的最大应力值部位相近,均在股骨中远端1/4交界处,手术前后应力分布基本相同。结论：采用个体化建模方法可以对骨折内固定取出前的骨愈合模型进行运算分析,快速预判术后是否导致骨折断端断裂。     

股骨骨折术后1 年随访骨愈合模型的有限元分析

目的：对股骨骨折髓内钉术后1 年骨愈合模型快速建模,通过有限元分析研究对比术前术后模型,通过术前判定内固定取出后骨折断端是否断裂。方法：运用Mimics、Geomagic Studio、Abaqus等软件采用快速个体化建模方法对股骨骨折髓内钉术后1年内固定取出术前后的多层螺旋CT 数据进行快速建立模型,术前模型模拟剥除钢板后进行有限元分析,施加人体单腿站立时的静力载荷和约束,并将分析结果与术后模型进行对比,观察米塞斯应力分布情况、最大值及其所处部位。结果：按照材料属性进行区别显示米赛斯应力的最大值及最小值,在不同应力载荷下,手术前后各类型材料的米赛斯应力最大值及最小值部位相同,各类型材料中,最大值均没有位于骨折断端,不同方法的最大应力值部位相近,均在股骨中远端1/4 交界处,手术前后应力分布基本相同。结论：采用个体化建模方法可以对骨折内固定取出前的骨愈合模型进行运算分析,快速预判术后是否导致骨折断端断裂。     

Relation between subject-specific hip joint loading, stress distribution in the proximal femur and bone mineral density changes after total hip replacement

In the prediction of bone remodelling processes after total hip replacement (THR), modelling of the subject-specific geometry is now state-of-the-art. In this study, we demonstrate that inclusion of subject-specific loading conditions drastically influences the calculated stress distribution, and hence influences the correlation between calculated stress distributions and changes in bone mineral density (BMD) after THR.For two patients who received cementless THR, personalized finite element (FE) models of the proximal femur were generated representing the pre- and post-operative geometry. FE analyses were performed by imposing subject-specific three-dimensional hip joint contact forces as well as muscle forces calculated based on gait analysis data. Average values of the von Mises stress were calculated for relevant zones of the proximal femur. Subsequently, the load cases were interchanged and the effect on the stress distribution was evaluated. Finally, the subject-specific stress distribution was correlated to the changes in BMD at 3 and 6 months after THR.We found subject-specific differences in the stress distribution induced by specific loading conditions, as interchanging of the loading also interchanged the patterns of the stress distribution. The correlation between the calculated stress distribution and the changes in BMD were affected by the two-dimensional nature of the BMD measurement.Our results confirm the hypothesis that inclusion of subject-specific hip contact forces and muscle forces drastically influences the stress distribution in the proximal femur. In addition to patient-specific geometry, inclusion of patient-specific loading is, therefore, essential to obtain accurate input for the analysis of stress distribution after THR.     

Mapping anisotropy of the proximal femur for enhanced image based finite element analysis

Finite element (FE) models of bone derived from quantitative computed tomography (QCT) rely on realistic material properties to accurately predict bone strength. QCT cannot resolve bone microarchitecture, therefore QCT-based FE models lack the anisotropy apparent within the underlying bone tissue. This study proposes a method for mapping femoral anisotropy using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) scans of human cadaver specimens. Femur HR-pQCT images were sub-divided into numerous overlapping cubic sub-volumes and the local anisotropy was quantified using a ‘direct-mechanics’ method. The resulting directionality reflected all the major stress lines visible within the trabecular lattice, and provided a realistic estimate of the alignment of Harvesian systems within the cortical compartment. QCT-based FE models of the proximal femur were constructed with isotropic and anisotropic material properties, with directionality interpolated from the map of anisotropy. Models were loaded in a sideways fall configuration and the resulting whole bone stiffness was compared to experimental stiffness and ultimate strength. Anisotropic models were consistently less stiff, but no statistically significant differences in correlation were observed between material models against experimental data. The mean difference in whole bone stiffness between model types was approximately 26%, suggesting that anisotropy can still effect considerable change in the mechanics of proximal femur models. The under prediction of whole bone stiffness in anisotropic models suggests that the orthotropic elastic constants require further investigation. The ability to map mechanical anisotropy from high-resolution images and interpolate information into clinical-resolution models will allow testing of new anisotropic material mapping strategies.     

Reliable simulations of the human proximal femur by high-order finite element analysis validated by experimental observations

Background: The mechanical response of patient-specific bone to various load conditions is of major clinical importance in orthopedics. Herein we enhance the methods presented in Yosibash et al. [2007. A CT-based high-order finite element analysis of the human proximal femur compared to in-vitro experiments. ASME Journal of Biomechanical Engineering 129(3), 297–309.] for the reliable simulations of the human proximal femur by high-order finite elements (FEs) and validate the simulations by experimental observations.

Method of approach: A fresh-frozen human femur was scanned by quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and thereafter loaded (in vitro experiments) by a quasi-static force of up to 1250 N. QCT scans were manipulated to generate a high-order FE bone model with distinct cortical and trabecular regions having inhomogeneous isotropic elastic properties with Young's modulus represented by continuous spatial functions. Sensitivity analyses were performed to quantify parameters that mostly influence the mechanical response. FE results were compared to displacements and strains measured in the experiments.

Results: Young moduli correlated to QCT Hounsfield Units by relations in Keyak and Falkinstein [2003. Comparison of in situ and in vitro CT scan-based finite element model predictions of proximal femoral fracture load. Medical Engineering and Physics 25, 781–787.] were found to provide predictions that match the experimental results closely. Excellent agreement was found for both the displacements and strains. The presented study demonstrates that reliable and validated high-order patient-specific FE simulations of human femurs based on QCT data are achievable for clinical computer-aided decision making.     

Generating and using patient-specific whole-body models for organ dose estimates in CT with increased accuracy: Feasibility and validation

The estimation of patient dose using Monte Carlo (MC) simulations based on the available patient CT images is limited to the length of the scan. Software tools for dose estimation based on standard computational phantoms overcome this problem; however, they are limited with respect to taking individual patient anatomy into account. The purpose of this study was to generate whole-body patient models in order to take scattered radiation and over-scanning effects into account. Thorax examinations were performed on three physical anthropomorphic phantoms at tube voltages of 80 kV and 120 kV; absorbed dose was measured using thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLD). Whole-body voxel models were built as a combination of the acquired CT images appended by data taken from widely used anthropomorphic voxel phantoms. MC simulations were performed both for the CT image volumes alone and for the whole-body models. Measured and calculated dose distributions were compared for each TLD chip position; additionally, organ doses were determined.MC simulations based only on CT data underestimated dose by 8%–15% on average depending on patient size with highest underestimation values of 37% for the adult phantom at the caudal border of the image volume. The use of whole-body models substantially reduced these errors; measured and simulated results consistently agreed to better than 10%.This study demonstrates that combined whole-body models can provide three-dimensional dose distributions with improved accuracy. Using the presented concept should be of high interest for research studies which demand high accuracy, e.g. for dose optimization efforts.     

Computed tomography and biomechanical analysis of fossil long bones.

Computerized transverse axial scanning (computed tomography) is a relatively new radiographic technique designed to recover precise cross-sectional images (tomograms) of 3-dimensional objects. This highly sensitive process permits tissues of similar density to be separated and displayed unambiguously. These special features are, therefore, ideal for analyzing the cross-sectional geometry of intact fossil long bones, even when they are highly mineralized and their medullary cavities are occluded by matrix. In order to demonstrate the utility of this method in assessing the complex relationship between fossil structure and probable function, geometrical and biomechanical properties of midshaft tomograms of femora and tibiae have been analyzed for a comparative primate sample consisting of Megaladapis edwardsi (an extinct giant prosimian from Madagascar), Indri indri (the largest extant prosimian), and Homo sapiens.     

Can isolated annular dilatation cause significant ischemic mitral regurgitation? Another look at the causative mechanisms

This study was to investigate the mechanisms of ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) by using a finite element (FE) approach. IMR is a common complication of coronary artery disease; and it usually occurs due to myocardial infarction. The pathophysiological mechanisms of IMR have not been fully understood, much debate remains about the exact contribution of each mechanism to IMR. Two patient-specific FE models of normal mitral valves (MV) were reconstructed from multi-slice computed tomography scans. Different grades of IMR during its pathogenesis were created by perturbation of the normal MV geometry. Effects of annular dilatation and papillary muscle (PM) displacement (both isolated and combined) on the severity of IMR were examined. We observed greater increase in IMR (in terms of regurgitant area and coaptation length) in response to isolated annular dilatation than that caused by isolated PM displacement, while a larger PM displacement resulted in higher PM forces. Annular dilation, combined with PM displacement, was able to significantly increase the severity of IMR and PM forces. Our simulations demonstrated that isolated annular dilatation might be a more important determinant of IMR than isolated PM displacement, which could help explain the clinical observation that annular size reduction by restrictive annuloplasty is generally effective in treating IMR.     

髋骨术后仿真生物力学分析与临床研究

目的:探讨坐耻骨肿瘤切除术后髋骨生物力学变化及其与恢复期并发症产生的关系,指导术后骨盆重建.方法:构建单侧完整髋骨及坐耻骨肿瘤切除术后髋骨有限元模型,在相同约束和负载条件下,计算髋骨相同部位位移、应力及应变值,比较与分析模拟手术前后力学变化,结合临床评价意义.结果:手术前后髋骨节点位移、应力及应变分布区域相似,手术前后骶髂关节节点位移及应变、髋臼顶节点应力及应变有显著性差异;手术前后骶髂关节节点应力、坐骨大切迹应力及应变无显著性差异.结论:坐耻骨肿瘤切除术后主要影响同侧骶髂关节、髋臼顶的生物力学状态,恢复期并发症发生的原因由骶髂关节、髋臼顶生物力学改变及耻骨联合与耻骨上支连接与稳定作用的消失所致,三者相互作用,相互影响.