Abstract
A cell-mechanobiological model is used for the prediction of bone density variation in rat tibiae under medium and high mechanical loads. The proposed theoretical-numerical model has only four parameters that need to be identified experimentally. It was used on three groups of male Wistar rats under sedentary, moderate intermittent and continuous running scenarios over an eight week period. The theoretical numerical model was able to predict an increase in bone density under intermittent running (medium intensity mechanical load) and a decrease of bone density under continuous running (higher intensity mechanical load). The numerical predictions were well correlated with the experimental observations of cortical bone thickness variations, and the experimental results of cell activity enabled us to validate the numerical results predictions. The proposed model shows a good capacity to predict bone density variation through medium and high mechanical loads. The mechanobiological balance between osteoblast and osteoclast activity seems to be validated and a foreseen prediction of bone density is made available.
Highlights
Bone remodeling has been at the heart of many osteoarticular problems, such as ageing, osteoporosis, fracture, and bone disease, since long before the well-known Wolff’sLaw was stated
We evaluate, from experimental data, a continuous theoretical numerical model based on George et al [46] to study bone density variations under medium or high mechanical loads and compare these numerical results with experimental ones obtained from running rats
The averaged data obtained from the different running scenarios in rats provided evidence that cortical bone thickness decreases in the moderate continuous running group, while it increases in the intermittent running group (Table 1)
Summary
Law (reprinted many times and recently updated [1]) was stated. Medical doctors and scientists have tried for many years to understand the basic principles of bone remodeling in order to accurately predict its evolution as a function of time based on mechanical and biological aspects, to evaluate the prognosis for adequate repair. One of the first main parameters identified for bone remodeling was the externally applied mechanical load [1,2,3]. It is predominant in the way that bone structure must be fit to support the body weight and overall body functioning. Changing the body weight or internal body functioning, impacts the bone density distribution. In order to predict bone remodeling as a function of an externally applied mechanical load, many models have been developed
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