Distribution and propagation of stress and strain in cube honeycombs as trabecular bone substitutes: Finite element model analysis.

For designing trabecular (Tb) bone substitutes suffering from osteoporosis, finite element model (FEM) simulations were conducted on honeycombs (HCs) of 8 × 8 × 1 (2D) and 8 × 8 × 8 (3D) assemblies of cube cellular units consisting of 0.9 mm long Nylon® 66 (PA, Young's modulus E: 2.83 GPa) and polyethylene (PE, E: 1.

Proximal cementation of a collarless polished tapered hip stem: biomechanical analysis using a validated finite element model.

Total hip replacement (THR) with cemented stem is a common procedure for patients with hip osteoarthritis. When primary THR fails, removal of the cement is problematic and poses challenges during revision surgeries. The possibility of proximal partial cementing of the hip stem was explored to mitigate the problem.

Adjacent vertebral fractures in the lumbar and thoracic spine after balloon kyphoplasty: A finite element analysis.

The purpose of the present study was to mechanically verify after vertebral augmentation (AVA) scores using a finite element method (FEM) with accurate material constants of balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) cement. Representative cases with AVA scores of 1 (case 1), 3 (case 2), and 5 (case 3) among patients with vertebral body fractures who underwent BKP were analyzed. A FEM model consisting of 5 vertebral bodies was created, including the injured vertebral body in each case.

Mechanical evaluation of revision surgery for femoral shaft nonunion initially treated with intramedullary nailing: Exchange nailing versus augmentation plating.

Introduction: Exchange nailing (EN) or augmentation plating (AP) has been employed to treat nonunions after intramedullary nailing for femoral shaft fractures. Although instability is a factor in hypertrophic nonunion, mechanical evaluations have been limited because the contribution of the callus to fracture site stability varies with healing. Our previous study illustrated the potential for evaluation using a finite element analysis (FEA) that incorporates callus material properties.

Osteoconductivity and neurotoxicity of silver-containing hydroxyapatite coating cage for spinal interbody fusion in rats.

Background: The use of spinal instrumentation is an established risk factor for postoperative infection. To address this problem, we prepared silver-containing hydroxyapatite coating, consisting of highly osteoconductive hydroxyapatite interfused with silver. The technology has been adopted for total hip arthroplasty.

Evaluation of bone healing process after intramedullary nailing for femoral shaft fracture by quantitative computed tomography-based finite element analysis.

Background: There is no proven method for quantitative evaluation of bone healing progress or decision to remove the nail after intramedullary nailing for femoral shaft fractures. Finite element analysis has become commonly utilized in bone analysis, but it may also be used to evaluate callus. The goal of this study was to use quantitative CT-based finite element analysis to assess the bone healing process and predict bone strength with the nail removed.

Analysis for Predictors of Failure of Orthodontic Mini-implant Using Patient-Specific Finite Element Models.

In this study, we analyzed the clinical factors and mechanical parameters for predicting orthodontic mini-implant (OMI) failure in the mandible, which has different properties from the maxilla. A patient-specific finite element analysis was applied to 32 OMIs (6 failures and 26 successes) implanted between the mandibular second premolars and first molars used for anchorage. The peak stress and strain parameters were calculated for each sample.

Prediction of Bone Mineral Density (BMD) Adaptation in Pelvis-Femur Model with Hip Arthroplasties.

The prediction of bone remodeling behaviour is a challenging factor in encouraging the long-term stability of hip arthroplasties. The presence of femoral components modifies the biomechanical environment of the bone and alters the bone growth process. Issues of bone loss and gait instability on both limbs are associated with the remodeling process.

Improvement of Mechanical Strength of Tissue Engineering Scaffold Due to the Temperature Control of Polymer Blend Solution.

Polymeric scaffolds made of PCL/PLCL (ratio 1:3, respectively) blends have been developed by using the Thermally Induced Phase Separation (TIPS) process. A new additional technique has been introduced in this study by applying pre-heat treatment to the blend solution before the TIPS process. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of the pre-heat treatment on mechanical properties.

Risk assessment of vertebral compressive fracture using bone mass index and strength predicted by computed tomography image based finite element analysis.

Background: A main purpose of osteoporosis diagnosis is to evaluate the bone fracture risk. Some bone mass indices evaluated using bone mineral density has been utilized clinically to assess the degree of osteoporosis. On the other hand, Computed tomography image based finite element analysis has been developed to evaluate bone strength of vertebral bodies.

Engineered chitosan for improved 3D tissue growth through Paxillin-FAK-ERK activation.

Scaffold engineering has attracted significant attention for three-dimensional (3D) growth, proliferation and differentiation of stem cells . Currently available scaffolds suffer from issues such as poor ability for cell adhesion, migration and proliferation. This paper addresses these issues with 3D porous chitosan scaffold, fabricated and functionalized with cysteine-terminated Arg-Gly-Asp (Cys-RGD) tri-peptide on their walls.

Effect of sagittal pelvic tilt on joint stress distribution in hip dysplasia: A finite element analysis.

Background: Physiologic pelvic tilt can change acetabular orientation and coverage in patients with hip dysplasia. In this study, we aimed to clarify the impact of change in sagittal pelvic tilt on joint stress distribution in dysplastic hips.

Methods: We developed patient-specific finite element models of 21 dysplastic hips and 21 normal hips.

Adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cell on chitosan/collagen composite scaffold.

In vitro tissue engineering requires a progenitor cell source and a porous scaffold providing three dimensional (3D) supports for growth and differentiation to attain tissue architectures. This research focused on fabrication and characterization of 3D porous scaffolds using chitosan (CS), collagen (CG) and chitosan-collagen (CS-CG) composite to investigate their influence on human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) adhesion, proliferation and differentiation. Material dependent variations in porous morphology and mechanical behavior of the fabricated CS, CG and CS-CG scaffold showed significant impact on hMSC adhesion, proliferation and differentiation.

Effects of culture conditions on the mechanical and biological properties of engineered cartilage constructed with collagen hybrid scaffold and human mesenchymal stem cells.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been used as one of the new cell sources in osteochondral tissue engineering. It has been well known that control of their differentiation into chondrocytes plays a key role in developing engineered cartilages. Therefore, this study aims to develop a fundamental protocol to control the differentiation and proliferation of MSCs to construct an engineered cartilage.

Development and characterization of hybrid tubular structure of PLCL porous scaffold with hMSCs/ECs cell sheet.

Tissue engineering offers an alternate approach to providing vascular graft with potential to grow similar with native tissue by seeding autologous cells into biodegradable scaffold. In this study, we developed a combining technique by layering a sheet of cells onto a porous tubular scaffold. The cell sheet prepared from co-culturing human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and endothelial cells (ECs) were able to infiltrate through porous structure of the tubular poly (lactide-co-caprolactone) (PLCL) scaffold and further proliferated on luminal wall within a week of culture.

Prediction of damage formation in hip arthroplasties by finite element analysis using computed tomography images.

Femoral bone fracture is one of the main causes for the failure of hip arthroplasties (HA). Being subjected to abrupt and high impact forces in daily activities may lead to complex loading configuration such as bending and sideway falls. The objective of this study is to predict the risk of femoral bone fractures in total hip arthroplasty (THA) and resurfacing hip arthroplasty (RHA).

Tissue Reaction to a Novel Bone Substitute Material Fabricated With Biodegradable Polymer-Calcium Phosphate Nanoparticle Composite.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel bone substitute material fabricated using a biodegradable polymer-calcium phosphate nanoparticle composite.

Methods: Porous structured poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) and hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticle composite, which was fabricated using solid-liquid phase separation and freeze-drying methods, was grafted into bone defects created in rat calvarium or tibia. Rats were killed 4 weeks after surgery, and histological analyses were performed to evaluate new bone formation.

Characterization of Tensile Mechanical Behavior of MSCs/PLCL Hybrid Layered Sheet.

A layered construct was developed by combining a porous polymer sheet and a cell sheet as a tissue engineered vascular patch. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the influence of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) sheet on the tensile mechanical properties of porous poly-(l-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) sheet. The porous PLCL sheet was fabricated by the solid-liquid phase separation method and the following freeze-drying method.

A theoretical model to predict tensile deformation behavior of balloon catheter.

In this technical note, a simple theoretical model was proposed to express the tensile deformation and fracture of balloon catheter tested by the ISO standard using piece-wise linear force-displacement relations. The model was then validated by comparing with the tensile force-displacement behaviors of two types of typical balloon catheters clinically used worldwide. It was shown that the proposed model can effectively be used to express the tensile deformation behavior and easily be handled by physicians who are not familiar with mechanics of materials.

Variation of mechanical behavior of β-TCP/collagen two phase composite scaffold with mesenchymal stem cell in vitro.

The primary aim of this study is to characterize the variational behavior of the compressive mechanical property of bioceramic-based scaffolds using stem cells during the cell culture period. β-Tricalcium phosphate (TCP)/collagen two phase composites and β-TCP scaffolds were fabricated using the polyurethane template technique and a subsequent freeze-drying method. Rat bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs) were then cultured in these scaffolds for up to 28 days.

Predisposing Factors for Orthodontic Mini-Implant Failure Defined by Bone Strains in Patient-Specific Finite Element Models.

Factors responsible for the success or failure of orthodontic mini-implants (OMIs) in clinical settings are unclear. Failure of OMIs was found to be associated with increased maximum principal strain (MaxPN) when assessed using the subject-specific finite element (FE) modeling technique. The purpose of the present study was to identify factors that increase MaxPN and thereby predispose the OMI to failure.

Mechanical characterization and modelling of the temperature-dependent impact behaviour of a biocompatible poly(L-lactide)/poly(ε-caprolactone) polymer blend.

Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) is a ductile, bioabsorbable polymer that has been employed as a blend partner for poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA). An improvement of the material strength and impact resistance of PLLA/PCL polymer blends compared to pure PLLA has been shown previously. To use numerical simulations in the design process of new components composed of the PLLA/PCL blend, a constitutive model for the material has to be established.

Neck fracture of femoral stems with a sharp slot at the neck: biomechanical analysis.

Background: Fracture of the femoral stem in total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a rare complication. We have encountered 2 cases of neck fractures of the femoral stem occurring 9 and 12 years after THA. Morphological and biomechanical analysis were performed to investigate the mechanism of these fractures.

Maximum principal strain as a criterion for prediction of orthodontic mini-implants failure in subject-specific finite element models.

Objective: To investigate the most reliable stress or strain parameters in subject-specific finite element (FE) models to predict success or failure of orthodontic mini-implants (OMIs).

Materials And Methods: Subject-specific FE analysis was applied to 28 OMIs used for anchorage. Each model was developed using two computed tomography data sets, the first taken before OMI placement and the second taken immediately after placement.

Effects of proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells on compressive mechanical behavior of collagen/β-TCP composite scaffold.

The primary aim of this study is to characterize the effects of cell culture on the compressive mechanical behavior of the collagen/β-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) composite scaffold. The composite and pure collagen scaffolds were fabricated by the solid-liquid phase separation technique and the subsequent freeze-drying method. Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs) were then cultured in these scaffolds up to 28 days.