Feasibility of in vivo MR Image-Based Micro Finite-Element Analysis of the Proximal Femur

Maite Aznarez-Sanado¹, Chamith S. Rajapakse¹, Ning Zhang¹, Jeremy F. Magland¹, Michael J. Wald¹, Alex C. Wright¹, Yusuf A. Bhagat¹, Wenli Sun¹, Felix W. Wehrli¹

Assessment of bone strength in the proximal femur, a frequent site of traumatic fracture, is of significant clinical interest. Micro finite-element analysis (_μ FEA) is a valuable tool for estimating bone strength. To determine the viability of _μ FEA on the basis of in vivo _μ MR images obtained at the proximal femur, _μ FEA based on ex vivo high-resolution micro-computed tomography, simulated low resolution _μ MR and in vivo _μ MR images were performed. Strain maps derived from the analyses qualitatively showed similar loading characteristics. The results indicate the feasibility of _μ FEA based on in vivo _μ MR images of the proximal femur.