The models developed here pave the way for the evaluation of implant loosening with time, will aid in understanding of why non-traumatic fractures occur, and provide insight into the reasons for vertebral deformities.
Earlier research focused on understanding the mechanical behaviour of bone graft, which is used extensively in revision surgery to replace lost bone. We developed a comprehensive constitutive model for morsellised cortico-cancellous bone, which provided the industry with a well defined criterion that bone substitutes need to mimic, and led to clinical trials of bone substitutes at Edinburgh and other centres in the UK. Ongoing research has developed novel experimental protocols to determine the time dependent mechanical properties of bone and used these to develop constitutive bone models [1, 2]. Almost all previous computational modelling of bone has used time-independent models. These new models will permit evaluation of implant loosening with time, understanding of why non-traumatic fractures occur and reasons for vertebral deformities.
References:
-
Manda, K., Xie, S., Wallace, R., Florencio, F. L. and Pankaj, P., Linear viscoelasticity - bone volume fraction relationships of bovine trabecular bone. Biomech Model Mechanobiol (2016). doi:10.1007/s10237-016-0787-0
-
Manda, K., Wallace, R.J., Xie, S., Florencio, F. L. and Pankaj, P., Biomech Model Mechanobiol (2016). doi:10.1007/s10237-016-0809-y
