Prediction of femoral fracture pattern using finite element analysis of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry -based model

Abstract

Osteoporotic bone fracture is a significant public health problem. Therefore, it has attracted several physicians' and biomedical researchers' attention. The main objective of this study is to predict hip fracture location under various loading conditions. The use of bone densitometry in clinics to evaluate and predict osteoporosis has been expanded. Therefore, in this research, finite element analysis is carried out using models based on images and reports of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry system to predict the femoral fracture pattern. Initially, the finite element models were created based on the bone mineral density reported in four distinct regions including neck, greater trochanter, inter trochanter, and total hip. To improve the accuracy of predictions, the pixel by pixel bone mineral density map was extracted based on the raw data of the HOLOGIC bone densitometry device. Linear finite element analysis was performed using the maximum risk factor, which has been defined based on the ratio of the strain energy density to the yield strain energy density, and thus the location of femoral fractures was determined based on the location of critical elements. The results demonstrate that using the non-homogeneous distribution of bone mineral density in a finite element analysis of the 2D models based on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry can be considered as a useful tool for predicting the location of the bone fracture.