Relationship Between Mechanical Properties and Bone Mineral Density of Human Femoral Bone Retrieved from Patients with Osteoarthritis

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyse retrieved human femoral bone samples using three different test methods, to elucidate the relationship between bone mineral density and mechanical properties. Human femoral heads were retrieved from 22 donors undergoing primary total hip replacement due to hip osteoarthritis and stored for a maximum of 24 hours postoperatively at + 6 °C to 8 °C.Analysis revealed an average structural modulus of 232±130 N/mm2 and ultimate compression strength of 6.1±3.3 N/mm2 with high standard deviations. Bone mineral densities of 385±133 mg/cm2 and 353±172 mg/cm3 were measured using thedual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and quantitative computed tomography (QCT), respectively. Ashing resulted in a bone mineral density of 323±97 mg/cm3. In particular, significant linear correlations were found between DXA and ashing with r = 0.89 (p < 0.01, n = 22) and between structural modulus and ashing with r = 0.76 (p < 0.01, n = 22).Thus, we demonstrated a significant relationship between mechanical properties and bone density. The correlations found can help to determine the mechanical load capacity of individual patients undergoing surgical treatments by means of noninvasive bone density measurements.

Heterogeneous Strain Distribution in the Subchondral Bone of Human Osteoarthritic Femoral Heads, Measured with Digital Volume Correlation

“…In excised trabecular bone specimens, apparent level mechanical properties are largely influenced by the underlying microstructural parameters [ 10 , 27 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 ]. Whilst previous work has identified BV/TV as a strong predictor of stiffness and strength in excised specimens, within our cohort we did not find any statistically significant relationships between BV/TV and any of the strain parameters evaluated.…”

Can the Bone Mineral Density of the Non-fractured Contralateral Hip Predict Medial Migration of Helical Blade-type Lag Screws in Osteoporotic Hip Fractures?

“…Haba et al investigated the correlation between the mechanical properties and BMD of 22 femoral heads. [25] They retrieved cylindrical bone samples from the osteoarthritic femoral head and measured the BMD using DXA and quantitative CT. For the mechanical strength test, uniaxial compression tests were performed on the cylindrical trabecular bone to measure the structural modulus and ultimate compression strength. They reported that there was a weak but signi cant correlation between the BMD and the mechanical properties of the trabecular bone as measured by the uniaxial compression test.…”

The distribution of bone mineral density in the femoral heads of unstable intertrochanteric fractures

“…8,9,22 Furthermore, a significant correlation between BMD and mechanical parameters has also been reported for the cylindrical samples acquired from the femoral heads obtained during hip arthroplasty. 12 From these reports, we estimate that our findings can be applied to mechanical stability, but higher resolution µCT, measuring bone microstructure, and mechanical testing may be required as a component of future research.…”

“…4,5 Although it has been reported in a cadaveric study that the bone mineral density (BMD) of the femoral head strongly correlates with the load at cutout 8,9 and the stability of the lag screw is related to the bone quality where the screw is inserted, few reports analyzed the BMD distribution of the femoral head. [10][11][12][13] Furthermore, no reports measured the local BMD according to the area where the screw is inserted and little is known about the relationship between the TAD and local BMD. 11 Therefore, the purposes of this study were (1) to clarify the distribution of the BMD in the femoral head with the use of the micro quantitative computed tomography (CT) and (2) to analyze the relationship between the TAD and local BMD.…”