Bone structure and strength in the proximal femur - changes due to age and medical treatment
Harada, A.; Wakao, N.; Nemoto, T.
Clinical Calcium 23(7): 943-950
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 0917-5857 PMID: 23811581 Document Number: 666983
Understanding bone strength scientifically requires knowledge of the material strength of a bone fragment, and understanding the bone strength of a specific part of a bone requires a destruction test using a cadaver bone. Since these tests cannot be used clinically, bone strength evaluation with the advanced medical technology of "predictive estimation of bone strength based on a finite element method using quantitative CT" has been developed to estimate bone strength with consideration of anatomical bone structure of the proximal femur. Today this method has come to be clinically applicable with actual patients. Investigations in our hospital have also led to the finding that while the proximal femur is strong enough for a standing load in daily life, it does not readily withstand the load from falls in accidents, and has a structure such that fractures may be predicted to occur at about one-third that size.