The effect of age on the structural properties of human ribs

Agnew, Amanda M.; Schafman, Michelle; Moorhouse, Kevin; White, Susan; Kang, Yun‐Seok

doi:10.1016/j.jmbbm.2014.09.002

Cited by 39 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 49 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…1,30 Previous work focusing on a subsample of the data presented here found that relationships between geometry and structural properties only slightly improved or did not improve when age and body size (body mass × Cv.Le) were controlled for. 23 Therefore, for this study all statistics were performed on data unadjusted for age, sex, or body size.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 68%

“…Linear structural stiffness (K) was calculated as the slope of 20–80% of the elastic portion of the force–displacement curve. 1 Force and displacement data were filtered using a CFC180 filter, 29 and detailed descriptions of the test set-up, data treatment, and variable definitions can be found in Agnew et al 1 and Schafman et al 30 …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A pseudo-R 2 (p-R 2 ) value was used to represent the ability of the independent variable to explain the amount of variance in the dependent variable. 33 For a detailed description of application of the statistical model to similar data, see Agnew et al 1 and Schafman et al 30 …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many researchers have attributed variation in thorax and rib properties to age and sex, however these variables only explain a trivial amount of variation in individual rib properties and are poor predictors of rib response and injury. 1,15,30 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Rib Geometry Explains Variation in Dynamic Structural Response: Potential Implications for Frontal Impact Fracture Risk

et al. 2017

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The human thorax is commonly injured in motor vehicle crashes, and despite advancements in occupant safety rib fractures are highly prevalent. The objective of this study was to quantify the ability of gross and cross-sectional geometry, separately and in combination, to explain variation of human rib structural properties. One hundred and twenty-two whole mid-level ribs from 76 fresh post-mortem human subjects were tested in a dynamic frontal impact scenario. Structural properties (peak force and stiffness) were successfully predicted (p<0.001) by rib cross-sectional geometry obtained via direct histological imaging (total area, cortical area, and section modulus) and were improved further when utilizing a combination of cross-sectional and gross geometry (robusticity, whole bone strength index). Additionally, preliminary application of a novel, adaptive thresholding technique, allowed for total area and robusticity to be measured on a subsample of standard clinical CT scans with varied success. These results can be used to understand variation in individual rib response to frontal loading as well as identify important geometric parameters, which could ultimately improve injury criteria as well as the biofidelity of anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs) and finite element (FE) models of the human thorax.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 68%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Rib Geometry Explains Variation in Dynamic Structural Response: Potential Implications for Frontal Impact Fracture Risk

et al. 2017

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It is, however, well acknowledged that ribs are metabolically active and subject to many hormonal changes which also affect remodelling rates[43]. A few studies have focused on the material properties of the ribs in relation to age and fracture risk[44–46]. To date though, there is not a lot of information about nano-mechanical properties of the rib in relation to age.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rib biomechanical properties exhibit diagnostic potential for accurate ageing in forensic investigations

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Age estimation remains one of the most challenging tasks in forensic practice when establishing a biological profile of unknown skeletonised remains. Morphological methods based on developmental markers of bones can provide accurate age estimates at a young age, but become highly unreliable for ages over 35 when all developmental markers disappear. This study explores the changes in the biomechanical properties of bone tissue and matrix, which continue to change with age even after skeletal maturity, and their potential value for age estimation. As a proof of concept we investigated the relationship of 28 variables at the macroscopic and microscopic level in rib autopsy samples from 24 individuals. Stepwise regression analysis produced a number of equations one of which with seven variables showed an R2 = 0.949; a mean residual error of 2.13 yrs ±0.4 (SD) and a maximum residual error value of 2.88 yrs. For forensic purposes, by using only bench top machines in tests which can be carried out within 36 hrs, a set of just 3 variables produced an equation with an R2 = 0.902 a mean residual error of 3.38 yrs ±2.6 (SD) and a maximum observed residual error 9.26yrs. This method outstrips all existing age-at-death methods based on ribs, thus providing a novel lab based accurate tool in the forensic investigation of human remains. The present application is optimised for fresh (uncompromised by taphonomic conditions) remains, but the potential of the principle and method is vast once the trends of the biomechanical variables are established for other environmental conditions and circumstances.

show abstract

Use of backscattered scanning electron microscopy to quantify the bone tissues of mid‐thoracic human ribs

Beresheim

Pfeiffer

Grynpas

et al. 2019

American J Phys Anthropol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objectives: Novel information on apartheid health conditions may be obtained through the study of recent skeletal collections. Using a backscattered scanning electron microscopy (BSE-SEM) approach, this study aims to produce bone quality and tissue mineralization data for an understudied South African population from the Western Cape province.Methods: Using BSE-SEM imaging, cortical porosity (Ct.Po), osteocyte lacunar density (Ot.Lc. Dn), and the degree of tissue mineralization were quantified in mid-thoracic ribs from the Kirsten Skeletal Collection. Individuals ( n female = 75, n male = 68, and mean age = 46.3 years)were predominantly from the South Africa Colored (SAC) population group ( n SAC = 103, 72%).Full cross-sectional images of each rib were manually stitched together in Adobe Photoshop.Photomontages were imported into MATALB (Mathworks, Natick, MA) for image processing and analysis. Age-related changes in histomorphometric parameters and sex differences were examined using correlation analysis, as well as linear and nonlinear regressions.Results: Young adult men have significantly less mineralized bone and fewer osteocyte lacunae, compared to women. Only men demonstrate a significant negative relationship between Ot.Lc.Dn and age. Average tissue mineralization decreases with age in women, while Ct.Po increases.Pore area (Po.Ar) does not vary with age, but pore density (Po.Dn) is highest in the perimenopause, when accelerated rates of bone turnover are first anticipated. Ct.Po is highest in the years following the predicted age of menopause, but levels off in the final decades of life.Conclusions: Men and women display disparate patterns of bone aging. Systemic disenfranchisement of non-white population groups affected bone health in South Africa, and may continue to do so today. Indicators of poor bone quality are evident in the full study sample, indicating that osteoporosis and fracture risk are not just of concern to the aged white female population. K E Y W O R D Sbone histomorphometry, BSE-SEM, osteoporosis, South African apartheid

show abstract

The effect of age on the structural properties of human ribs

Cited by 39 publications

References 49 publications

Rib Geometry Explains Variation in Dynamic Structural Response: Potential Implications for Frontal Impact Fracture Risk

Rib Geometry Explains Variation in Dynamic Structural Response: Potential Implications for Frontal Impact Fracture Risk

Rib biomechanical properties exhibit diagnostic potential for accurate ageing in forensic investigations

Use of backscattered scanning electron microscopy to quantify the bone tissues of mid‐thoracic human ribs

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About