Mechanical evaluation of therapeutic effect for osteoporosis vertebra by using patient-specific finite element analysis

Osteoporosis causes frequently bone compressive fracture at the vertebrae. Drug therapy is often treated in clinic to strengthen osteoporosis vertebra and prevent fracture. It is important to evaluate mechanical strength and betterment of bone fracture risk of vertebra in the treatment process. Patient-specific mechanical analysis is necessary to estimate bone fracture risk. In this study, patient specific finite-element models of osteoporosis vertebra based on CT images were obtained considering individual bone shape, cortical thickness and bone density distribution. Bone fracture analysis of the osteoporosis vertebrae undergoing drug treatment were performed over time, for 4 patients to estimate the therapy effect to mechanical strength recovery of vertebrae.