Structural Optimisation: Biomechanics of the Femur

TL;DR

This study presents a meso-scale structural model of the femur that optimizes trabecular and cortical bone architecture based on strain stimuli, balancing computational efficiency with structural accuracy.

Contribution

It introduces a novel iterative meso-scale modeling approach that aligns predicted femur architecture with clinical observations, improving predictive bone modeling.

Findings

Model predictions match clinical observations of femur structure.

The approach balances computational efficiency with detailed structural description.

Optimized architecture reflects realistic trabecular and cortical distributions.

Abstract

A preliminary iterative 3D meso-scale structural model of the femur was developed, in which bar and shell elements were used to represent trabecular and cortical bone respectively. The cross-sectional areas of the bar elements and the thickness values of the shell elements were adjusted over successive iterations of the model based on a target strain stimulus, resulting in an optimised construct. The predicted trabecular architecture, and cortical thickness distribution showed good agreement with clinical observations, based on the application of a single leg stance load case during gait. The benefit of using a meso-scale structural approach in comparison to micro or macro-scale continuum approaches to predictive bone modelling was achievement of the symbiotic goals of computational efficiency and structural description of the femur.