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Computed tomography porosity and spherical indentation for determining cortical bone millimetre-scale mechanical properties

Abstract:
The cortex of the femoral neck is a key structural element of the human body, yet there is not a reliable metric for predicting the mechanical properties of the bone in this critical region. This study explored the use of a range of non-destructive metrics to measure femoral neck cortical bone stiffness at the millimetre length scale. A range of testing methods and imaging techniques were assessed for their ability to measure or predict the mechanical properties of cortical bone samples obtained from the femoral neck of hip replacement patients. Techniques that can potentially be applied in vivo to measure bone stiffness, including computed tomography (CT), bulk wave ultrasound (BWUS) and indentation, were compared against in vitro techniques, including compression testing, density measurements and resonant ultrasound spectroscopy. Porosity, as measured by micro-CT, correlated with femoral neck cortical bone’s elastic modulus and ultimate compressive strength at the millimetre length scale. Large-tip spherical indentation also correlated with bone mechanical properties at this length scale but to a lesser extent. As the elastic mechanical properties of cortical bone correlated with porosity, we would recommend further development of technologies that can safely measure cortical porosity in vivo.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1038/s41598-019-43686-6

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Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0003-0098-1438
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Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MPLS Division
Department:
Materials
Role:
Author


Publisher:
Springer Nature
Journal:
Scientific Reports More from this journal
Volume:
9
Issue:
1
Publication date:
2019-05-15
Acceptance date:
2019-04-23
DOI:
ISSN:
2045-2322


Language:
English
Pubs id:
pubs:1000001
UUID:
uuid:c87f7d77-2247-46f4-8299-5b6c4aa3c099
Local pid:
pubs:1000001
Source identifiers:
1000001
Deposit date:
2019-05-21

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