Volume mesh generation and finite element analysis of trabecular bone magnetic resonance images.

In order to help the assessment of trabecular bone diseases and complement Dual X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) in diagnosis process, it is needed an accurate mechanical characterization of trabecular bone structure to estimate the risk of fracture and evaluate micro-architecture deterioration. As Finite Element modeling has become a well-established method for analysis of complex structures, an algorithm has been developed to build a Finite Element mesh from three-dimensional reconstruction information in voxels. Generated mesh is loaded in a Finite Element analysis software in order to simulate micro-architecture mechanical behavior under compression conditions. Most part of related researches have been based on ex vivo micro-Computed Tomography (microCT) scans. This study uses three-dimensional trabecular bone reconstructions from high resolution Magnetic Resonance images acquired in vivo.