Bone-Based Biomechanical Numerical Analysis and Its Weight Loss Due to the Presence of Osteoporosis Based on Finite Element Analysis

Nowadays there are several studies or evaluations of the human bone system that are aimed at determining the mechanical properties of bone (trabecular and cortical). Therefore, these mechanical properties can be easily applied to numerical models and determine the structural behaviour of the system. However, some diseases modify the mechanical properties, density, mass and geometry of such systems. Among the common ones is osteoporosis. Numerical modelling approximating biological tissue's real state must contain these variables (or at least the most harmful). The application of the finite element method allows the collection of relevant information to obtain a complex visualization closer to the reality of the biological system. Therefore, the development of a biomechanical analysis applying various specialized computer packages will allow the user to obtain the criteria required for the evaluation of these structures, the severity of the condition, or its consequences and the establishment of possible treatments. This paper presents the implementation of a complex model of the bone structure of the human hip that is developed using computational tomography to determine structural effects when applying a load to a subject in a bipedal state. It is important to mention that the model arises from a healthy bone to determine the acting unitary stresses and deformations. The fields of unit stresses and deformations will determine the normal pattern of behaviour of a healthy person. Subsequently, the numerical model is modified to implement the presence of the condition (osteoporosis) and the analysis is repeated under the same conditions as above. A comparison is made between numerical results to develop a criterion on the damage and/or severity of the condition. Based on the above, it will be possible to establish the need for surgical intervention (replacement of elements using prostheses) or appeal to rehabilitation techniques (developed to improve the functions in damaged areas). This can be detected by the loss of density and/or mass and/or modification of the geometry of the bone system. This type of numerical simulation has the great advantage of being non-invasive and can reduce costs.