Structural analysis of bone by segmentation and finite element analysis in patients with osteoporosis

Abstract

In bioengineering, mechanical properties related to the stress and stiffness of the materials can be determined by evaluating the bone density obtained from medical images. Diseases such as osteoporosis involve the decrease in bone mass and average bone density, inducing a high risk of fracture and the decrease in mechanical properties. This work proposes the use of numerical methods and medical imaging to evaluate biomarkers related to bone stress and strain affected by osteoporosis. The digital twin of bones is made from the segmentation of the bones associated with the femoral group diagnosed with osteoporosis. The material model for the bone tissue is defined as a functionally graded material with elastic properties obtained from computed tomography numbers. The results show that the proposed method allows monitoring of the disease and the evaluation of the risk of fracture, considering the functional mechanical load. In this sense, the use of radiomics takes advantage of the potential of personalized medicine to improve the lives of patients.