Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Transient-steady state phenomena in microdamage physiology: A proposed algorithm for lamellar bone

  • Review
  • Published:
Calcified Tissue International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

This algorithm suggests that in steady states the momentary burden of unrepaired microdamage (MDx) in lamellar bone equals the rate of creation of new MDx multiplied by the time taken to repair a locus of MDx completely in the biomechanical sense. That “repair period” equals about 0.6 years in healthy human adults. When MDx production suddenly increases, the momentary MDx burden begins to increase too, and does so for a time equal to the repair period and in proportion to the increased MDx production. After the repair period elapses, the momentary MDx would tend to reach and stay at a maximum value as long as increased MDx production continued. Prolonging the repair period, preventing the creation of new remodeling units to repair MDx, or delaying mineralization of the new bone made by those units would also increase MDx burdens. Reducing MDx production or the repair period, or accelerating the creation of new modeling units would have the opposite effects on the momentary MDx burden but would also go through a transient phase before developing the new steady state conditions. Exploiting these relationships quantitatively and experimentally requires expressing them mathematically and using for the terms in any equations things one can define logically and measure practically. Accordingly, the article suggests a special definition of a unit amount of microdamage, how to measure it, and simple algebra and equations for calculating some effects of microdamage on the biologic system.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Albright JA, Brand RA (1987) The scientific basis of orthopaedics, 2nd ed. Appleton and Lange, New York

    Google Scholar 

  2. Burr DB, Martin RB, Schaffler MB, Radin EL (1985) Bone remodeling in response to in vivo fatigue microdamage. J Biomech 18:189–200

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Burr DB, Martin RB, Radin EL (1983) Threshold for the production of fatigue microdamage in vivo (abstract). Orthopaedic Research Society, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Chicago, 8:69

    Google Scholar 

  4. Burr DB, Martin RB, Schaffler MB, Radin EL (1985) Bone remodeling in response to in vivo fatigue microdamage. J Biomech 18:189–200

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Carter DR (1984) Mechanical loading histories and cortical bone remodeling. Calcif Tissue Int (suppl) 36:19–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Carter DR, Caler WE, Spengler DM, Frankel VH (1981) Uniaxial fatigue of human cortical bone. The influence of tissue physical characteristics. J Biomech 14:461–470

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Carter DR, Caler WE, Spengler DM, Frankel VH (1981) Fatigue behavior of adult cortical bone: the influence of mean strain and strain range. Acta Orthop Scand 52:461–470.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Currey J (1984) The mechanical adaptations of bones. Princeton University Press, Princeton

    Google Scholar 

  9. Freeman MAR, Todd RC, Pirie CJ (1974) The role of fatigue in the pathogenesis of senile femoral neck fracture. J Bone Joint Surg 56B:898–905

    Google Scholar 

  10. Frost HM (1960) Presence of microscopic cracks in vivo in bone. Henry Ford Hosp Med Bull 8:27–35

    Google Scholar 

  11. Frost HM, Roth H, Villanueva AR (1961) Physical characteristics of bone. IV. Microscopic failure and prefailure patterns. Henry Ford Hosp Med Bull 9:163–170

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Frost HM (1985) the pathomechanics of osteoporoses. Clin Orthop Rel Res 200:198–225

    Google Scholar 

  13. Frost HM (1985) Bone microdamage: factors that impair its repair. In: Uhthoff HK, (ed) Current concepts of bone fragility. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, pp 123–148

    Google Scholar 

  14. Nunamaker DM, Butterweck DM, Black J (1987) Fatigue fractures in thoroughbred race horses. Relationship with age and strain (abstract). Orthopaedic Research Society, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Chicago, 12:72

    Google Scholar 

  15. Radin EL (1972) Trabecular microfractures in response to stress: the possible mechanism of Wolff's Law. In: Orthopaedic surgery and traumatology. Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam, pp 59–65

    Google Scholar 

  16. Roth H, Frost HM, Villanueva AR (1961) Physical characteristics of bone. I. The existence of plastic flow in vitro. Henry Ford Hosp Med Bull 9:149–152

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Schaffler MD (1985) Stiffness and fatigue of compact bone at physiological strains and strain rates. Thesis, West Virginia University School of Medicine, pp 1–217

  18. Unthoff, HK (ed) (1986) Current concepts of bone fragility. Springer-Verlag, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  19. Watson M (1975) Microfractures in the head of the femur. J Bone Joint Surg 57A:696–701

    Google Scholar 

  20. Rutishauser E, Majno G (1950) Lésions osseuses par surcharge dans le squelette normale et pathologique. Bull Schweiz Akad der Med Wiss 5:333–342

    Google Scholar 

  21. Reifsnider KL, Schultze K, Duke JC (1983) Long-term fatigue behavior of composite materials. In: Long-term fatigue behavior of composites. ASTM, Philadelphia 813:136–159

    Google Scholar 

  22. Frost HM (1986) Intermediary organization of the skeleton. CRC Press, Boca Raton

    Google Scholar 

  23. Parfitt AM (1981) The integration of skeletal and mineral homeostasis. In: DeLuca HF, Frost HM, Jee WSS, Johnston Jr CC, Parfitt AM (eds) Osteoporosis. Recent advances in pathogenesis and treatment. University Park Press, Baltimore, pp 115–126

    Google Scholar 

  24. Putschar WGJ (1960) General pathology of the musculoskeletal system. In: Buchner F, Letterer E, Roulet F (eds) Handbuch der Allgemeinen Pathologie. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, pp 361–488

    Google Scholar 

  25. Arnold JS (1970) Focal excessive resorption in aging and senile osteoporosis. In: Barzel US (ed), Osteoporosis. Grune and Stratton, New York, pp 80–113

    Google Scholar 

  26. Frost HM (1969) Tetracycline-based histological analysis of bone remodeling. Calcif Tissue Res 3:211–229

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. High WB, Capen CC, Black HE (1981) Histomorphometric effects of thyroxine on cortical bone remodeling in adult dogs. Am J Pathol 102:438–446

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Burstein AH, Reilly DT (1976) Aging of bone tissue: mechanical properties. J Bone Joint Surg 58A:82–86

    Google Scholar 

  29. Currey JD (1959) Differences in tensile strength of bone of different histological types. J Anat (Lond) 98:87–95

    Google Scholar 

  30. Evans FG (1957) Stress and strain in bones. Charles C. Thomas, Springfield

    Google Scholar 

  31. Reilly DT, Burstein AH (1974) The mechanical properties of cortical bone. J Bone Joint Surg 36A:1001–1022

    Google Scholar 

  32. Jee WSS (1983) The skeletal tissues. In: Weiss L (ed) Histology, 5th ed. Elsevier-North Holland, pp 200–255

  33. Danylchuk KD (1978) The effects of environmental pollutants on bone remodeling. Thesis, University Western Ontario, London, pp 1–209.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Eriksen EF (1986) Normal and pathological remodeling of human trabecular bone. Three-dimensional reconstruction of the remodeling sequence in normals and in metabolic bone disease. End Rev 7:379–408

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Mosekilde Li, Mosekilde Le, Danielsen CC (1987) Biomechanical competence of vertebral trabecular bone in relation to ash density and age in normal individuals Bone 8:79–86

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Parfitt AM, Mathews HE, Villanueva AR, Kleerekoper M, Frame B, Rao SD (1984) Relationship between surface, volume and thickness of iliac trabecular bone in aging and in osteoporosis. J Clin Invest 72:1396–1409

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Recker RR (ed) (1983) Bone histomorphometry. Techniques and interpretation. CRC Press, Boca Raton

    Google Scholar 

  38. Baron R, Tross R, Vignery M (1984) Evidence of sequential remodeling in rat trabecular bone: morphology, dynamic histomorphometry, and changes during skeletal maturation. Anat Rec 208:137–145

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Flora L, Hassings GS, Parfitt AM, Villanueva AR (1981) Comparative skeletal effects of two diphosphonate drugs. In: DeLuca HF, Frost HM, Jee WSS, Johnston Jr CC, Parfitt AM (eds) Osteoporosis, University Park Press, Baltimore, pp 389–407

    Google Scholar 

  40. Martin RB (1987) Effect of ovariectomy on trabecular bone turnover in dogs. Report given at University of Utah-spon-sored Bone Biology Workshop, Sun Valley, Idaho

  41. Anderson C, Cape RDT, Crilly RG, Hodsman AB, Wolfe BMJ (1984) Preliminary observations on a form of coherence therapy for osteoporosis. Calcif Tissue Int 36:341–343

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Frost HM (1988) Vital biomechanics. Proposed general concepts for skeletal adaptations to mechanical usage. Calcif Tissue Int 42:145–156

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Frost HM (1988) Structural adaptations to mechanical usage. A proposed “three-way rule” for bone modeling. I. Comp Vet Orth Trauma 1:7–17

    Google Scholar 

  44. Wakamatsu E, Sissons HA (1969) The cancellous bone of the iliac crest. Calcif Tissue Res 4:147–161

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Frost HM (1987) Secondary osteon population densities. II. Estimating the missing osteons. Yearbook of Physical Anthropology 30:239–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Southern Colorado Clinic, 2002 Lake Ave., 81004, Pueblo, Colorado, USA

    H. M. Frost M.D.

  2. Purdue University, Pueblo, Colorado, USA

    H. M. Frost M.D.

  3. A.A.O.S., Pueblo, Colorado, USA

    H. M. Frost M.D.

  4. A.B.J.S., Pueblo, Colorado, USA

    H. M. Frost M.D.

Authors
  1. H. M. Frost M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Frost, H.M. Transient-steady state phenomena in microdamage physiology: A proposed algorithm for lamellar bone. Calcif Tissue Int 44, 367–381 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02555964

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02555964

Key words

Search

Navigation