Determine the limits of the association between bone mineral density and bone strength

Project Description

Exploring the relationship between BMD and bone strength: can microarchitecture break the link?

There is a strong relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and bone strength, however that relationship breaks down when bone microarchitecture is affected. It is difficult to know the relative roles of BMD and bone microarchitecture to estimated bone strength. But, with our TBONE project we have a unique opportunity to find a relationship between BMD and strength before space flight, immediately upon return to Earth, and a year after recovery. Although BMD recovers, the bone microarchitecture may be forever altered. We can test that relationship with this unique dataset.

Scope

• Graduate student side project
• Summer student
• Perform finite element analysis on bone microarchitecture.
• Measure bone mineral density.

Data Source

• TBONE

Resources

• FAIM software
• ARC for FE analysis