Improved prediction of bone mechanical parameters based on
clinically available CT data
Accepted 8th
January, 2024
E. Rokita1,2*, A. Wróbel2 and G. Tatoń1
1Department of Biophysics, Jagiellonian University
Medical College, Św. Łazarza 16, 31530 Kraków, Poland. 2Institute of Physics, Jagiellonian University, S.
Łojasiewicza 11, 30348 Kraków, Poland.
The goal of
all studies relating bone density and structure to bone strength is to predict
fracture risk in a specific patient using clinically available data. The aim of
the present study was to test a new method to describe the mechanical properties
of bone using clinically available data and to compare it with routine
procedures. The study was performed on 50 L3 vertebrae taken from males aged 22
to 81 years. The samples were examined with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and
quantitative CT. An extensive analysis was carried out for 2-dimensional (2D)
and 3-dimensional(3D) CT images. Also, a 2D image histogram analysis was
performed. The parameters (mean – XC1/XC2, standard deviation – SD1/SD2, and area
– X1/X2)characterizing the organic matrix and bone material were calculated by
fitting two Gaussian functions. The compression test was performed to determine
ultimate stress (smax), ultimate strain, elastic modulus (E), and the ratio of
work to fracture and the volume of the vertebra. The study carried out made it
possible to determine several dozens of parameters that describe the geometry,
architecture, density, and mechanical properties of the vertebral body. It was
found that E and
smax was best described by the parameter related to trabecular
bone density (XC2) obtained from the histogram analysis. The adjusted
coefficient of determination (R2) is equal to 0.688 and 0.836 for E and
smax,
respectively. For volumetric/areal bone mineral density (vBMD/aBMD), R2 is
0.619/0.159 for E wile for
smax equals to 0.771/0.316. It is also possible to
correct the vBMD using histogram parameters. The R2 values for E and
smax rise
to 0.673/0.825 after the correction. The superiority of a new method of E and
smax assessment using clinically available CT data was confirmed. The proposed
method does not require calibration and predicts the mechanical parameters of
the vertebrae more precisely than vBMD/aBMD. In addition, it can be implemented
in the opportunistic analysis of CT data.
Key words:
Human vertebra, CT examination, Image histogram analysis,
prediction of mechanical properties, opportunistic screening.
This is an open
access article published under the terms of the
Creative
Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use,
distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the
original work is properly cited.
Cite this article as:
Rokita E, Wróbel A, Tatoń G (2024).
Improved prediction of bone mechanical parameters based on clinically available
CT data. Med. Med. Sci.
12(1): 001-011.
