Chamith S. Rajapakse1, Benjamin T. Newman1, Wenli Sun1, Michael Ispiryan1, Michelle Slinger2, Elizabeth A. Kobe2, Kelly Borges1, Karyll Davis2, Keren De Jesus2, Jeremy Magland1, and Felix W. Wehrli1
1Laboratory for Structural NMR Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States, 2University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
High-resolution MRI-derived finite element analysis allows for the in vivo estimation of bone strength. This information is useful for planning treatments and interventions in individuals suffering from conditions that affect bone mineral homeostasis. However these methods have not been previously validated. This study subjected distal tibia specimens to both MRI-based finite element analysis and mechanical testing ex vivo. Estimated bone stiffness was strongly correlated to the experimental values (R2=0.84) supporting usefulness of MRI-based bone strength assessment in human subjects.
