THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN 3-DIMENSIONAL CONNECTIVITY AND THE ELASTIC PROPERTIES OF TRABECULAR BONE

A finite-element model was used to explore the relationship between co nnectivity density and the elastic modulus of trabecular bone, Six cub ic specimens of trabecular bone, three prepared from human distal radi i and three from L1 vertebrae, were imaged with synchrotron microtomog raphy, The three-dimensional images were reconstructed into binary vol umes of mineralized bone and soft tissue, and incorporated into the fi nite-element model. The relationship between three-dimensional connect ivity and elastic modulus was explored by uniform thinning (atrophy) a nd thickening (recovery) of the trabecular bone. Though no functional relationship was found between connectivity and elastic modulus, there was a linear relationship, after a full cycle of atrophy and recovery , between the loss of elastic modulus and the overall loss of connecti vity. The results indicate that recovery of mechanical function depend s on preserving or restoring trabecular connectivity.