Effect of deformation rate on the flexural fracture behaviour of long bones

Bisphosphonate-induced reductions in rat femoral bone energy absorption and toughness are testing rate-dependent

Bisphosphonates have been used for years to suppress bone turnover and reduce fracture risk. Bisphosphonates have recently been associated with atypical femoral fractures, which are catastrophic, low trauma, brittle fractures that appear to occur more frequently than in untreated individuals. Previous work using a dog model has demonstrated bisphosphonate-induced reductions in bone toughness (the inverse of brittleness), yet data are lacking to show this occurs in rodents. The goal of this study was to determine if bisphosphonate-induced alterations in toughness could be quantified in rats. At 26 weeks of age, skeletally mature rats (n = 32 total) were given an injection of either zoledronate (100 μg/kg body weight) or vehicle (0.5 ml saline). Five weeks post-injection, both femora were collected and analyzed for geometry and mechanical properties. To assess the effect of testing rate on the biomechanical outcomes, the left femora were broken at 2 mm/min, while the right femora were broken at 20 mm/min. The results showed a significantly lower energy to failure in zoledronate-treated animals compared to vehicle at the slow testing rate (-15%, p < 0.05) with no difference at the faster rate. While there was not a significant interaction between drug and testing rate for toughness to fracture (p = 0.07), toughness between ultimate stress and fracture was significantly lower with zoledronate only at the slow rate (-40%, p < 0.05). These data document that bisphosphonate-induced reductions in energy absorption and toughness can be quantified in rats yet they are highly dependent on testing rate.

In vivo calcium and phosphate iontophoresis for the topical treatment of osteoporosis

BACKGROUND

In addition to systemic treatment, osteoporosis may be treated topically by incorporating calcium and phosphate into the bone.

OBJECTIVE

This article describes the use of a recently developed, novel iontophoretic apparatus suitable for local ion delivery into bones. In this study, in vivo experiments were performed to compare the effects of local electrotherapy and those of systemic hormone replacement on bone.

DESIGN

In this study, local iontophoresis was carried out in ovariectomized and control rats. Bone density, biomechanical, and elemental studies were performed.

METHODS

Forty 12-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats received an ovariectomy (OVX) or were sham-operated (sham). Twenty-one weeks later, tibias of subgroups of sham-operated and OVX animals were subjected to serial local iontophoresis (IOP) treatments, received systemic subcutaneous 17β-estradiol (E2), or were treated with the combination of IOP and E2. Changes in bone density were detected by quantitative ultrasound densitometry and expressed as amplitude-dependent speed of sound (AD-SoS). Biomechanical studies and elemental analysis were performed at the end of the experiments.

RESULTS

Osteopenia developed 21 weeks after OVX in the proximal tibial regions; the mean difference estimate (95% confidence intervals) of AD-SoS values between the sham-operated and OVX animals was 188.7 (140.4-237.1). Serial iontophoretic treatment resulted in an increase in bone density in both sham-operated and OVX animals (sham+IOP versus sham: 121.4 [73.01-169.7]; OVX+IOP versus OVX: 241.6 [193.2-289.9]). Similar changes in AD-SoS were detected after 17β-estradiol (E2) treatment; however, even greater changes occurred after OVX+E2+IOP versus OVX+E2 (123.4 [75.1-171.8]). Similar improvements also were evident regarding the biomechanical features of the tibias.

LIMITATIONS

A limitation of this study was the relatively small number of rats.

CONCLUSIONS

The efficacy of local IOP using calcium- and phosphate-donating microparticles is comparable to that of estrogen therapy as evidenced by steadily increasing bone density, restoration of the calcium and phosphate balance, and improvement in the biomechanical properties of the bone.

Core decompression of the equine navicular bone: an in vitro biomechanical study

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of core decompression surgery and bone mineral density (BMD) on the mechanical properties of equine navicular bones.

STUDY DESIGN

Experimental, in vitro study.

SAMPLE POPULATION

Fore limb navicular bones (n=36 pairs) from sound 2-5-year-old horses with no radiographic abnormalities of the distal aspect of the forelimbs.

METHODS

Navicular BMD was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. One randomly assigned navicular bone from each pair served as control. The contralateral test specimen was allocated to 1 of 6 treatment groups defined by drill bit size (3.2 versus 2.5 mm diameter) and by the number of drill channels (1, 2, or 3) created in the proximal border of the bone. Bones were then tested until failure in 3-point bending. Data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA and regression analysis.

RESULTS

There were significant (P<.001) positive correlations between BMD and biomechanical data. A significant (P<.001) reduction in breaking strength was noted between intact and drilled bone pairs; however, the diameter and number of decompression channels did not significantly (P>.05) influence the extent of the reduction in mechanical strength.

CONCLUSION

In vitro core decompression significantly decreases the breaking strength of the equine navicular bone.

Simulation of hip fracture in sideways fall using a 3D finite element model of pelvis–femur–soft tissue complex with simplified representation of whole body

Hip fractures due to sideways falls are a worldwide health problem, especially among the elderly population. The objective of this study was to simulate a real life sideways fall leading to hip fracture. To achieve this a computed tomography (CT) scan based three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) model of the pelvis-femur complex was developed using a wide range of mechanical properties in the bone of the complex. For impact absorption through large deformation, surrounding soft tissue was also included in the FE model from CT scan data. To incorporate the inertia effect, the whole body was represented by a spring-mass-dashpot system. For trochanteric soft tissue thickness of 14 mm, body weight of 77.47 kg and average hip impact velocity of 3.17 m/s, this detailed FE model could approximately simulate a sideways fall configuration and examine femoral fracture situation. At the contact surface, the peak impact load was 8331 N. In spite of the presence of 14 mm thick trochanteric soft tissue, within the trochanteric zone the most compressive peak principal strain was 3.5% which exceeds ultimate compressive strain. The modeled trochanteric fracture was consistent with clinical findings and with the findings of previous studies. Further, this detailed FE model may be used to find the effect of trochanteric soft tissue thickness variations on peak impact force, peak strain in sideways fall, and to simulate automobile side impact and backward fall situations.

Surface stiffness affects impact force during a fall on the outstretched hand

Falls on the outstretched hand are among the most common causes of traumatic bone fracture. However, little is known regarding the biomechanical factors that affect the risk for injury during these events. In the present study, we explored how upper-extremity impact forces during forward falls are affected by modification of surface stiffness, an intervention applicable to high-risk environments such as nursing homes, playgrounds, and gymnasiums. Results from both experimental and linear biomechanical models suggest that during a fall onto an infinitely stiff surface, hand contact force is governed by a high-frequency transient (having an associated peak force Fmax1), followed by a low-frequency oscillation (having an associated lower magnitude peak force Fmax2). Practical decreases in surface stiffness attenuate Fmax1 but not Fmax2 or the magnitude of force transmitted to the shoulder. Model simulations reveal that this arises from the compliant surface's ability to decrease the velocity across the wrist damping elements at the moment of impact (which governs Fmax1) but inability to substantially reduce the peak deflection of the shoulder spring (which governs Fmax2). Comparison between model predictions and previous data on fracture force suggests that feasible compliant surface designs may prevent wrist injuries during falls from standing height or lower, because Fmax1 will be attenuated and Fmax2 will remain below injurious levels. However, such surfaces cannot prevent Fmax2 from exceeding injurious levels during falls from greater heights and therefore likely provide little protection against upper-extremity injuries in these cases.

Reduced strength of rat cortical bone after glucocorticoid treatment

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of therapeutic doses of glucocorticoids on the mechanical strength of rat femora. Groups of rats were treated with a glucocorticoid--methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol)--1 mg/kg/day for 5, 10, 30, and 90 days. One group served as intact control, two control groups were injected with saline for 30 and 90 days and another group of rats had restricted access to food so that their weight gain was reduced to the same extent as the group treated with glucocorticoid for 90 days. The strength of the femora was analyzed by means of a materials testing machine. No differences were found in the short-term treated groups compared to the control groups, but in the group treated with glucocorticoid for 90 days, a reduction in the bending strength of the rat cortical bone was found. Furthermore, this reduction in strength was found after correction for the reduced thickness of cortical bone in the glucocorticoid-treated rats. The results could not be explained solely by the fact that glucocorticoid-treated rats had smaller bones. No alterations were found in bone density or bone ash weight relative to dry weight. The data indicate that the reduction in bone strength induced by glucocorticoids is not only caused by a reduction in bone quantity, but also by a decrease in bone quality.