Bone strength in children: understanding basic bone biomechanics

Abstract

The term 'bone strength' is often used to explain why some children's bones fracture while others do not. Bone strength describes the general integrity of bone; a complex organ with multiple structural levels and an array of biomechanical properties. Key biomechanical properties of bone include stiffness, toughness, ductility and mechanical strength. When measured in bone tissue, these properties are known as the intrinsic biomechanical properties of bone, while the extrinsic biomechanical properties reflect the structural behaviour of a whole bone. The fine balance between various and often opposing intrinsic and extrinsic biomechanical properties of bone is crucial for fracture resistance. When clinically evaluating a child with a fracture, an understanding of basic bone biomechanics helps determine the likely mechanism of injury and whether underlying reduced fracture resistance exists.

Combined Extracts of Herba Epimedii and Fructus Ligustri Lucidi Rebalance Bone Remodeling in Ovariectomized Rats

“…The biomechanical integrity of bone is considered as the main factor associated with the risk of fracture [17]. We evaluated the biomechanical state of the bone by observing the maximum displacement of the fracture (maximum load) and the vertical displacement of the fracture surface and the long axis (ultimate deflection) of the right femur.…”

Angelica facilitates fracture healing by promoting juvenile rat bone marrow stem cells proliferation

“…Since the most important biological activity of BMP-2 is to induce osteogenesis [13], it can induce undifferentiated mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate into chondrocytes, further forming cartilage, and eventually mineralizing to bone tissue. Finally, it can induce osteogenesis through entochondrostosis [14,15].…”

Imaging and reporting considerations for suspected physical abuse (non-accidental injury) in infants and young children. Part 1: initial considerations and appendicular skeleton

“…Their decreased density but increased porosity 33 restricts fracture propagation, resulting in decreased rates of comminution 4 . Understanding the 34 interplay between the underlying complex processes that determine 'bone strength' is vital to 35 understanding why paediatric bones fracture 5 .…”