Development of mathematical models for the improvement of healthcare delivery to patients with osteoporosis.

摘要

Osteoporosis is a disease which causes bones to become more brittle and prone to fracture. While osteoporosis can progress painlessly and without any appreciable associated medical costs, once fractures begin to occur, the medical cost of treating osteoporosis rise substantially. Vertebral fractures are particularly troublesome as they have been associated with both acute and chronic back pain. In order to develop successful treatments for osteoporosis which will decrease the rate of vertebral fractures, the structure-function relationship of the cancellous bone must be fully understood. The overall objective of this work was the development of a series of mathematical models which will be useful in the evaluation of current treatments for osteoporosis. Three specific aims were identified as necessary steps to achieve this final goal. (1) Specific Aim 1: Creation of a microstructural model of vertebral cancellous bone (2) Specific Aim 2: Vibration analysis of vertebral cancellous bone microstructural model (3) Specific Aim 3: Analysis of single lumbar spine motion segment Overall, the completion of these specific aims illustrates the utility of mathematical models in the evaluation of potential treatments for osteoporosis. This series of models should be immediately useful in the evaluation of new osteoporosis interventional strategies in early testing phases.