Performance Evaluation of a Non-Linear Finite-Element Model for Assessing Yield Strength from in vivo 3D MR Images of Trabecular Bone

Ning Zhang¹, Jeremy F. Magland¹, Chamith S. Rajapakse¹, Yusuf A. Bhagat¹, Felix W. Wehrli¹

High-resolution image-based non-linear micro-finite element (FE) modeling can directly predict bone failure behavior thereby assessing osteoporotic fracture risk. In this work, a new program for non-linear μFE modeling was developed to estimate trabecular bone (TB) yield parameters based on a computationally efficient algorithm for linear FE analysis in conjunction with establishment of a TB failure criterion. A reproducibility study on in-vivo μMR images was conducted to assess its performance. The ability to distinguish means between four healthy young subjects suggests that the yield parameters derived from the non-linear program have reproducibility adequate to evaluate treatment effects in interventional studies.