Correlations between nanostructure and micromechanical properties of healing bone.

All hierarchical levels in bone are known to contribute to its mechanical behavior. The basic building block is the mineralized collagen fibril which is assembled into larger structures with varying fibrillar organization. The collagen organization increases from unordered woven bone in the callus which is gradually replaced by higher ordered lamellar bone during bone development and healing and finally results in cortical lamellar bone with highest degree of organization.

Registering 2D and 3D imaging data of bone during healing.

Unlabelled: PURPOSE/AIMS OF THE STUDY: Bone's hierarchical structure can be visualized using a variety of methods. Many techniques, such as light and electron microscopy generate two-dimensional (2D) images, while micro-computed tomography (µCT) allows a direct representation of the three-dimensional (3D) structure. In addition, different methods provide complementary structural information, such as the arrangement of organic or inorganic compounds.

Mechanical and structural properties of bone in non-critical and critical healing in rat.

A fracture in bone results in a dramatic change of mechanical loading conditions at the site of injury. Usually, bone injuries heal normally but with increasing fracture gaps, healing is retarded, eventually leading to non-unions. The clinical situation of these two processes with different outcomes is well described.

A comparative study of zirconium and titanium implants in rat: osseointegration and bone material quality.

Permanent metal implants are widely used in human medical treatments and orthopedics, for example as hip joint replacements. They are commonly made of titanium alloys and beyond the optimization of this established material, it is also essential to explore alternative implant materials in view of improved osseointegration. The aim of our study was to characterize the implant performance of zirconium in comparison to titanium implants.