The numerical simulation of osteophyte formation on the edge of the vertebral body using quantitative bone remodeling theory.

OBJECTIVES: To extend the quantitative prediction of the external shape of bone structure to the simulation of osteophyte formation on the edge of vertebral body.
METHODS: The high-order nonlinear equation of bone remodeling was used to control osteophyte formation process. The idea of topology optimization in engineering was imported to allow the outgrowth of osteophyte. Osteophyte on the edge of a vertebral body in its mid-sagittal plane was simulated numerically.
RESULTS: Osteophyte formation is an adaptive bone remodeling process in response to the progressive changes of mechanical environment, which were mainly caused by intervertebral disc degeneration.
CONCLUSION: The numerical simulation in this paper extended the structural simulation based on the quantitative bone remodeling theory to bone morphological abnormity in orthopaedics, which can help to better understand the relationship between bone morphological abnormity and the mechanical environment.