Fatigue fracture of human lumbar vertebrae under cyclic axial compressive load is investigated between 1 and 5000 load cycles and for load magnitudes between 30 and 70% of the ultimate compressive strength of human lumbar vertebrae. In addition, it is shown that the ultimate compressive strength of human lumbar vertebrae can be predicted from trabecular bone density determined by quantitative computed tomography in combination with a measurement of the area of the vertebral end plate.
The ultimate compressive strength of 36 thoracolumbar vertebrae was determined experimentally. In addition, the trabecular bone mineral content was measured by single energy quantitative computed tomography. The areas of fractured endplates were also determined by computed tomography. The results show that a linear relationship exists between the compressive strength and the product of bone density and endplate area. These data allow an in vivo prediction of vertebral body strength using a noninvasive method with a standard error of estimate amounting to less than 0.95 kN.
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