DEPENDENCE OF HUMAN LUMBAR VERTEBRAL TRABECULAR BONE (HVTB) MECHANICAL ANISOTROPY RATIO ON QCT- BASED APPARENT DENSITY

摘要

Obtaining bone mechanical properties from clinical resolution quantitative computed tomography (QCT)-derived localized apparent density presents the most attractive, available tool for developing subject-specific finite element (FE) bone models. While QCT density is a good predictor of the mechanical properties of HVTB, knowledge of the fabric tensor (anisotropy ratio) can substantially improve prediction and accuracy of CT-based continuum FE models. Unfortunately, resolution of currently available clinical CT scanners is inadequate for mapping the fabric tensor of HVTB, which is known to be at least transversely isotropic . Furthermore, trabecular bone mechanical anisotropy ratio has been shown to vary with density.