Effects of the basic multicellular unit and lamellar thickness on osteonal fatigue life

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-26-2017

Abstract

A remodeling cycle sets the size of the osteon and associated lamellae in the basic multicellular unit. Treatments and aging affect these micro-structural features. We previously demonstrated decreased fatigue life with an unexplained mechanism and decreased osteon size in cortical bone treated with high-dose bisphosphonate. Here, three finite element models were examined: type-1: a single osteon, as a homogeneous unit and with heterogeneous lamellae and interlamellae, type-2: a control, interstitial-only tissue and type-3: the osteon with cement line, set within the interstitial tissue. Models were loaded in simulated, sinusoidal bending fatigue. As osteon size was decreased, lamellar number and lamellar thickness were incrementally adjusted for each model. As hypothesized, lamellae within the larger type-1 models attained greater cycles to failure and the addition of an osteon to type-2 models (generating a type-3 model set) yielded increased fatigue life. However, as the osteon size was decreased, the potential for compressive damage nucleation was increased within the lamellae of the osteons versus the interstitium. Also, osteons with fewer, thicker lamellae displayed increased fatigue life. Osteonal microstructure plays a role in damage initiation location, especially when BMU size is smaller. Previous findings by us and others could partially be explained by this further understanding of increased probability for damage nucleation in smaller osteons.

Identifier

85023600091 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Journal of Biomechanics

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2017.06.006

e-ISSN

18732380

ISSN

00219290

PubMed ID

28711163

First Page

116

Last Page

123

Volume

60

Grant

R21AR063351

Fund Ref

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

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