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Biomechanics of the Femoral Head Cartilage and Subchondral Trabecular Bone in Osteoporotic and Osteopenic Fractures

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Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the micro structural properties of the subchondral trabecular bone (STB) and the macro mechanical properties of the articular cartilage (AC) in patients with osteoporotic (OP) and osteopenic (OPE) fractures. Sixteen femoral head samples (OP;OPE, n = 8 each) were obtained from female patients who underwent hip hemiarthroplasty. STB and AC specimens were harvested from those heads. Bone specimens were scanned using µ-CT to determine the micro structural properties. In-situ nondestructive compressive tests were performed for the cartilages to obtain elastic properties. The finite element technique was implemented on STB models created from µ-CT data to compute apparent elastic modulus. In addition, dynamic cyclic destructive tests were performed on STB and AC specimens to assess failure cycles. The results demonstrated that STB specimens in OPE group have more interconnected structure and higher cyclic dynamic strength than those in OP group. Furthermore, bone mineral density, failure cycle, and trabecular number of STB were positively correlated with the cartilage failure cycle, which indicates that STB alteration may affect the macroscopic mechanical properties of AC. The findings suggest that STB loss correlates with a decrease in cartilage strength and that improving of bone quality may prevent cartilage weakness.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Ege University Planning and Monitoring Coordination of Organizational Development and Directorate of Library and Documentation for their support in editing and proofreading service of this study

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ege University, Bornova, 35100, Izmir, Turkey

    Mahmut Pekedis & Hasan Yildiz

  2. Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Kayseri City Hospital, 38080, Kayseri, Turkey

    Firat Ozan

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  1. Mahmut Pekedis
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Correspondence to Mahmut Pekedis.

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Pekedis, M., Ozan, F. & Yildiz, H. Biomechanics of the Femoral Head Cartilage and Subchondral Trabecular Bone in Osteoporotic and Osteopenic Fractures. Ann Biomed Eng 49, 3388–3400 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-021-02861-5

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