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Influence of the ultrastructure on the fracture characteristics of human bone in physiological and pathological conditions

Subject Area Orthopaedics, Traumatology, Reconstructive Surgery
Term from 2013 to 2018
Project identifier Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 227070813
 
Final Report Year 2018

Final Report Abstract

Aging and bone diseases are associated with an increased risk of fracture. Therefore, it is important to understand the origins of such disease-related deterioration in bone's mechanical properties. The mechanical integrity of bone derives from its hierarchical structure, which in healthy states is able to resist bone fracture and tolerate damage. Indeed, the mechanisms through which bone derives its mechanical properties are related to bone quality parameters. Comprehensive bone quality assessment in healthy and diseased cases was carried out to provide new data on bone's cellular activities, structural changes and mechanical resistance. In this context, we have used an integrated approach combining experimental bone quality assessment tools and clinical medical technology by using high resolution peripheral quantitative microcomputed tomography (HR-pQCT), dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), microcomputed tomography, bone histomorphometry, synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) / wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), backscattered electron imaging (BSE), microanalysis (EDX, µXRF), reference point indentation/nanoindentation, Raman and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Although healthy bone tissue can generally resist physiological loading environments, certain conditions such as aging and disease can significantly increase the risk of fracture in patients. Specifically, the reduced mechanical integrity originates from various alterations to the hierarchical structure of bone tissue. With this program, we have analyzed how human bone structure resists fracture in healthy bone and how changes to the bone structure due to aging, osteoporosis, osteoporosis treatment and changed collagen matrix properties can affect the mechanical integrity of bone tissue.

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