An anatomical subject-specific FE-model for hip fracture load prediction

Abstract

In order to reduce the socio-economic burden induced by osteoporotic hip fractures, finite element models have been evaluated as an additional diagnostic tool for fracture prediction. For a future clinical application, the challenge is to reach the best compromise between model relevance and computing time. Based on this consideration, the current study focused on the development and validation of a subject-specific FE-model using an original parameterised generic model and a specific personalization method. A total of 39 human femurs were tested to failure under a quasi-static compression in stance configuration. The corresponding FE-models were generated and for each specimen the numerical fracture load (F _FEM) was compared with the experimental value (F _EXP), resulting in a significant correlation (F _EXP = 1.006 F _FEM with r ² = 0.87 and SEE = 1220 N, p < 0.05) obtained with a reasonable computing time (30 mn). Further in vivo study should confirm the ability of this FE-model to improve the fracture risk prediction.

Keywords:

• Biomechanics
• Finite element
• Patient-specific
• Femur
• Hip fracture
• Computed tomography

Acknowledgements

The authors are deeply grateful to Sylvain Persohn and Sébastien Laporte for their technical support. This work was partly supported by the European Research Grant EU QCK6-CT-2002-02440.