A Computer-simulation Model Relating Bone-cell Metabolism to Mechanical Adaptation of Trabecular Architecture

The Effects of Trabecular-Bone Loading Variables on the Surface Signaling Potential for Bone Remodeling and Adaptation

“…Mathematical equations were introduced to quantify relationships. 16,34 The change in bone mass at a particular trabecular surface location x at time t is determined by…”

“…This is illustrated in Fig 2. Applying 2D computer simulation methods we showed that this theory provides a qualitative explanation for both modeling and remodeling. 16,34 We later studied the theory using a 3D finite element analysis (FEA) computational model and showed that it explains growth and maintenance of 3D trabecular-like architectures with realistic physiological and morphological characteristics. Also the adaptation of these structures to alternative loading conditions, and the morphological effects of osteoporosis and medical intervention, could be explained.…”

Analysis of bone architecture sensitivity for changes in mechanical loading, cellular activity, mechanotransduction, and tissue properties

“…Although these are assumptions, we have demonstrated in earlier studies that this model can explain a large number of trabecular bone features (Ruimerman et al 2001) and that its results are not strongly dependent on the choice of the exact load parameter sensed by the osteocytes (Ruimerman et al 2005) or even the assumed regulation mechanism (van Oers et al 2010). In the present study, we used a 2D model, which limits the structures that can be represented.…”

“…We used a square mesh of 5 mm 2 , with an element size of 50 × 50 µm. The mesh was loaded statically with 1.5 MPa compression in both horizontal and vertical directions (perpendicular to the mesh), which for a linear elastic material represents the maximum SED rate of a dynamic load of 0.75 MPa at 1 Hz (Ruimerman et al 2001). This external force F was varied to represent changes in mechanical load.…”

“…This model incorporates the individual actions of the different bone cell types (osteoclasts, osteoblasts, and osteocytes). The osteocytes are assumed to react to the local loading conditions by promoting osteoblastic bone formation, and the model thus incorporates osteocyte mechanosensitivity and mechanotransduction (Huiskes et al 2000;Ruimerman et al 2001Ruimerman et al , 2005.…”