H. Martin et al., NONINVASIVE ASSESSMENT OF STIFFNESS AND FAILURE LOAD OF HUMAN VERTEBRAE FROM CT-DATA, Biomedizinische Technik, 43(4), 1998, pp. 82-88
A calculational method based on noninvasively derived data for the ass
essment of the mechanical quality of individual vertebrae is presented
. Dimensional data obtained from serial, segmented CT scans were used
as the geometric input for a newly developed finite element model desi
gned to calculate stiffness and failure load of these complex bone str
uctures. Mechanical, structural data for cancellous bone was obtained
by measurements of the compressive strength and failure load of actual
vertebral specimens obtained at autopsy. The stiffness and failure lo
ad calculated by the newly developed finite element model were compare
d with the data obtained from mechanical measurements of vertebral spe
cimens. A high correlation between measured and calculated failure loa
d was found (r = 0.89, p < 0.001, n = 16). The correlation between the
failure load and bone mineral density (BMD) was significant (r = 0.82
, p < 0.001, n = 16). A similar correlation between calculated and mea
sured stiffness (r = 0.81, p < 0.001, n = 15) was also found using the
finite element model described herein. Thus the newly developed calcu
lation methodology has been verified and can be used to predict the fa
ilure load and stiffness of osteoporotic vertebrae using data obtained
non-invasively from CT scans.