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Examination of continuum and micro-structural properties of human vertebral cancellous bone using combined cellular solid models

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Abstract

Two- and three-dimensional structural models of the vertebral body have been used to estimate the mechanical importance of parameters that are difficult to quantify experimentally such as lattice disorder, trabecular thickness, trabecular spacing, connectivity, and fabric. Many of the models that investigate structure–function relationships of the vertebral body focus only on the trabecular architecture and neglect solid–fluid interactions. We developed a cellular solid model composed of two idealized unit cell geometries to investigate the continuum and micro-structural properties of human vertebral cancellous bone in a mathematically tractable model. Using existing histomorphological data we developed structure–function relationships for the mechanical properties of the solid phase, estimated the micro-structural strains, and predicted the fluid flow characteristics. We found that the micro-structural strains may be 1.7 to 2.2 times higher than the continuum level strains between the ages of 40 and 80. In addition, the predicted permeability agrees well with the experimental data.

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Acknowledgements

Support for this work was provided by a Louisiana Board of Regents Fellowship, the Whitaker Foundation, and the National Science Foundation (BES-9983931). The authors would like to thank Tony Keaveny and Sean Haddock for rendering the three-dimensional architecture of vertebral cancellous bone and the following researchers for fruitful discussions concerning various aspects of this model: Yves Arramon, Glen Livesay, Oscar Yeh, Glen Niebur, and Tony Keaveny. We are also grateful to Bill Newman for his insights and assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA

    E. A. Sander, D. A. Shimko, K. C. Dee & E. A. Nauman

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA

    E. A. Nauman

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  1. E. A. Sander
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  2. D. A. Shimko
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  3. K. C. Dee
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  4. E. A. Nauman
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Correspondence to E. A. Nauman.

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Sander, E.A., Shimko, D.A., Dee, K.C. et al. Examination of continuum and micro-structural properties of human vertebral cancellous bone using combined cellular solid models. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2, 97–107 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10237-003-0031-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10237-003-0031-6

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