Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by a loss of bone density and an altered bone
architecture. These modifications lead to an increased risk factor for bone fracture,
particularly of the femoral neck. This disease can be explained by a disorder in the bone
remodeling process which is triggered by the apparition of micro-cracks within the bone.
According to Frost’s theory [1], these micro-cracks
appear for a specific local strain threshold. Thus, the knowledge of the microarchitecture
and quality of trabecular bone is essential to determine this local strain threshold. This
paper studied the mechanical trabecular bone behavior of 43 patients diagnosed as
osteoporotic whose femoral heads were replaced by hip prosthesis. From each patient, a
cylinder-shaped of trabecular bone samples was cored. Each sample was scanned by X-ray
micro-tomography before a compression test in order to reconstruct a reliable
Finite-Element (FE) model of the bone architecture in Abaqus. The force-displacement
curves were recorded for all the samples and calibrated by the experimental responses. The
force-displacement numerical curves were adjusted to the experimental ones, by modifying
the tissue microscopic mechanical behavior. This process leads to the determination of the
local strain threshold responsible for triggering the bone remodeling process.