The application of the cell method in a clinical assessment of bone fracture risk.

The aim of this paper is to introduce a new technique for in vivo quantification of bone structure fracture risk. The elastic properties of the architecture obtained from bone digital radiographic images are determined using the cell method. Compression tests are simulated and the results of the numerical analysis are indexed. Such an index is considered to be indicative of the bone structure capabilities. The first clinical validation was carried on at CSMMO, Centro Studi Malattie Metaboliche dell'Osso (Gorizia, Italy), showing that this technique can improve the diagnosis and help a physician in the identification of an actual fracture risk. The examination is not expensive, uses instrumentation that is widely available and therefore could be easily introduced in clinical use as a complement to the current osteoporosis diagnosis methodologies.