An algorithm for bone mechanoresponsiveness: implementation to study the effect of patient-specific cell mechanosensitivity on trabecular bone loss

Bríanne M. Mulvihill and Patrick J. Prendergast

Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, 2008, vol. 11, issue 5, 443-451

Abstract: The rate of bone loss is subject to considerable variation between individuals. With the ‘mechanostat’ model of Frost, genetic variations in bone mechanoresponsiveness are modelled by different mechanostat ‘setpoints’ – which may also change with age or disease. In this paper, the following setpoints are used: ϵmin (strain below which resorption is triggered); ϵmax (strain above which deposition occurs); ωcrit (microdamage-level above which damage-stimulated resorption occurs). To simulate decreased mechanosensitivity, ϵmax is increased. Analyses carried out on a simplified model of a trabecula show that ϵmax is a critical parameter: if it is higher in an individual (genetics) or increases (with age) the mass deficit each remodelling cycle increases. Furthermore, there is a value of ϵmax above which trabecular perforation occurs, leading to rapid loss of bone mass. Maintaining bone cell mechanosensitivity could therefore be a therapeutic target for the prevention of osteoporosis.

Date: 2008
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://hdl.handle.net/10.1080/10255840802136150 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:taf:gcmbxx:v:11:y:2008:i:5:p:443-451

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.tandfonline.com/pricing/journal/gcmb20

DOI: 10.1080/10255840802136150

Access Statistics for this article

Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering is currently edited by Director of Biomaterials John Middleton

More articles in Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering from Taylor & Francis Journals
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Chris Longhurst ().