Computer simulation of trabecular remodeling using a simplified structuralmodel

A simplified three-dimensional simulation of trabecular bone remodeling has been developed. The model utilizes 441 planar structural units to represen t approximately 50 mm(3) of initial bone volume with 199 basic multicellula r units (BMUs). The simulation takes into account trabecular perforation in the structural model. The cases of male bone remodeling with no menopause and female bone remodeling with menopause are examined from the period of s imulated age 25-80 years. Menopause is arbitrarily started at age 45 and ex tends for 7.5 years. Zero-, first-, and second-order BMU activation respons es are employed to examine how the bone would be affected by the method of increase of BMU activation during menopause. At age 80, the female bone rem odeling simulation produced a bone volume loss of approximately 49% for all three activation responses. This compared to a 38% bone volume loss for th e case of no menopause. For the menopause simulations, an average of about 40% of the total bone loss was due to perforation. (C) 1999 by Elsevier Sci ence Inc, All rights reserved.