Calculation of femoral cortical bone elasticity modulus from computed tomography scans

Abstract

The results obtained from the finite element analysis, apart from precise geometry, depend on the applied boundary conditions and material properties. The use of patient specific geometries and patient’s material properties leads to more accurate results. The aim of this paper was to determine elasticity modulus of a human femoral bone when the bone is considered as an isotropic material. Elasticity modulus for the femoral bone was calculated from a computed tomography images and obtained values showed how the modulus changes along the femoral bone. The images were additionally used to create a patient specific 3D model of the femoral bone. Additionally, the effect of a change in elasticity modulus values was demonstrated by comparison of maximum displacement and von Mises stress obtained from the finite element analyses of the femoral bone model. The numerical simulations showed the influence of the elastic modulus on the displacement and stress values and importance of the appropriate elasticity modulus.