Name: proximal cadaveric femur preparation for fracture strength testing and quantitative ct-based finite element analysis
Uploaded: 2017-03-11T13:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Proximal Cadaveric Femur Preparation for Fracture Strength Testing and Quantitative CT-based Finite Element Analysis at JoVE.com

We would like to thank the Materials and Structural Testing Core Facility at Mayo Clinic for technical support. In addition we would like to thank Lawrence J. Berglund, Brant Newman, Jorn op den Buijs, Ph.D., for their help during the study. This study was financially supported by the Grainger Innovation Fund from the Grainger Foundation.

NOTE: All studies presented in this protocol were approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Mayo Clinic. The bones were obtained over a period of 6 years from various organizations. All specimens were collected within 72 hours of death, wrapped in saline saturated towels, and stored at -20 &#176;C until preparation.
1. Measuring Bone Mineral Density Using DXA
<ol>
	<li>Remove specimens kept at -20 &#176;C freezer to thaw at room temperature for about 24 h; specimens do not need to ...

<ol>
	<li>Cristofolini, L., Schileo, E., Juszczyk, M., Taddei, F., Martelli, S., Viceconti, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mechanical+testing+of+bones:+the+positive+synergy+of+finite-element+models+and+in+vitro+experiments.">Mechanical testing of bones: the positive synergy of finite-element models and in vitro experiments.</a> Philos Trans A Math Phys Eng Sci. 368, 2725-2763 (2010).</li><li>Cartner, J. L., Hartsell, Z. M., Ricci, W. M., Tornetta, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Can+we+trust+ex+vivo+mechanical+testing+of+fresh-frozen+cadaveric+specimens?+The+effect+of+postfreezing+delays.">Can we trust ex vivo mechanical testing of fresh-frozen cadaveric specimens? The effect of postfreezing delays.</a> J Orthop Trauma. 25 (8), 459-461 (2011).</li><li>An, Y. H., Draughn, R. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Mechanical testing of bone and the bone-implant interface. , (1999).</li><li>van Haaren, E. H., van der Zwaard, B. C., van der Veen, A. J., Heyligers, I. C., Wuisman, P. I., Smit, T. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effect+of+long-term+preservation+on+the+mechanical+properties+of+cortical+bone+in+goats.">Effect of long-term preservation on the mechanical properties of cortical bone in goats.</a> Acta Orthop. 79, 708-716 (2008).</li><li>Shaw, J. M., Hunter, S. A., Gayton, J. C., Boivin, G. P., Prayson, M. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Repeated+freeze-thaw+cycles+do+not+alter+the+biomechanical+properties+of+fibular+allograft+bone.">Repeated freeze-thaw cycles do not alter the biomechanical properties of fibular allograft bone.</a> Clin Orthop Relat Res. 470 (3), 937-943 (2012).</li><li>Topp, T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Embalmed+and+fresh+frozen+human+bones+in+orthopedic+cadaveric+studies:+which+bone+is+authentic+and+feasible?.">Embalmed and fresh frozen human bones in orthopedic cadaveric studies: which bone is authentic and feasible?.</a> Acta Orthop. 83 (5), 543-547 (2012).</li><li>Manske, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cortical+and+trabecular+bone+in+the+femoral+neck+both+contribute+to+proximal+femur+failure+load+prediction.">Cortical and trabecular bone in the femoral neck both contribute to proximal femur failure load prediction.</a> Osteoporos Int. 20 (3), 445-453 (2009).</li><li>Rezaei, A., Dragomir-Daescu, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Femoral+Strength+Changes+Faster+With+Age+Than+BMD+in+Both+Women+and+Men:+A+Biomechanical+Study.">Femoral Strength Changes Faster With Age Than BMD in Both Women and Men: A Biomechanical Study.</a> J Bone Miner Res. 30, 2200-2206 (2015).</li><li>Cristofolini, L., McNamara, B., Freddi, A., Viceconti, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+vitro+measured+strains+in+the+loaded+femur:+quantification+of+experimental+error.">In vitro measured strains in the loaded femur: quantification of experimental error.</a> J Strain Anal Eng Des. 32, 193-200 (1997).</li><li>Dragomir-Daescu, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Robust+QCT/FEA+models+of+proximal+femur+stiffness+and+fracture+load+during+a+sideways+fall+on+the+hip.">Robust QCT/FEA models of proximal femur stiffness and fracture load during a sideways fall on the hip.</a> Ann Biomed Eng. 39, 742-755 (2011).</li></ol>

We presented a robust bone preparation protocol for ensuring mechanical testing and QCT/FEA modeling of femoral strength in a sideways fall on the hip configuration. This method became our standard in-house protocol. Over the course of 6 years, with varying personnel, about 200 femora were successfully prepared following this protocol. The outcomes of the protocol includes classifying bone conditions using DXA, ruling out metastatic diseases, previous fractures, or implants using X-ray, and obtaining mineral distribution...

Determining the true cadaveric proximal femoral fracture strength with mechanical testing is a destructive method that requires a rigorous testing approach for accurate measurements. In particular, proper bone preparation methods are necessary to maintain near in vivo integrity of the bones prior to mechanical fracture testing1. This is achieved by proper bone storage and minimizing handling at room temperature. This test data is extensively used to validate QCT/FEA models of femoral fracture which have the potential to be used clinically to understand the fracture risk, especially in osteoporotic patients. Unfortunately, there is no current standard procedure to prepare proximal femur samples for mechanical testing. A good testing procedure should ensure repeatability and reproducibility of the preparation process. Therefore, fixtures required for sample preparation need to be carefully designed and fabricated to minimize the likelihood of various testing errors. We also need to minimize the preparation time for which bone tissue is at room temperature and thus in danger of degradation with irreversible changes in mechanical properties. 
To this end, we have developed a procedure that preserves bone tissue across multiple preparation steps. This is important to ensure minimal exposure time at room temperature while also minimizing the number of freeze/thaw cycles which can affect tissue physical properties2. The entire procedure is long and nontrivial as the steps occurred over multiple weeks and required scheduling for scanning procedures and personnel availability. The steps included thawing bone samples, screening the samples using DXA scanning to obtain bone mineral density (BMD) values, X-ray to rule out any diseased specimens, and finally CT scanning to estimate distribution of bone mineral and femoral geometry. All the specimens were prepared for testing by removing extraneous soft tissues from the bone surface, cutting the femur to a length required for testing, and potting the femur in a desired orientation for simulating a sideways fall on the hip during subsequent testing. It is essential to keep the time period for all these operations as short as possible. A robust protocol is thus mandatory for consistent specimen preparation, tissue preservation between steps, and for reducing the overall preparation time. 
The aim of this paper is to present in detail the procedures involved in the preparation of femoral samples for subsequent mechanical testing under various conditions. Preservation of the bone tissue is crucial in this process and we achieved it by keeping specimens frozen between steps and keeping them carefully wrapped in saline saturated towels at all times except when scanning and mechanically testing the bones. Femora were also kept wrapped in saline wet towels during the steps involving PMMA curing to prevent dryness of the bone tissue.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>CT potting container and scanning fixture</td>
			<td>Internally manufactured</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Custom designed and manufactured</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CT scanner</td>
			<td>Siemens</td>
			<td>Somatom Definition scanner (Siemens, Malvern, PA)</td>
			<td>CT scanning equipment</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Quantitative CT Phantom</td>
			<td>Midways Inc, San Francisco, CA</td>
			<td>Model 3 CT calibration Phantom</td>
			<td>Used for obtaining BMD values from Hounsfield units in the CT image</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry scanner</td>
			<td>General Electric</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>GE Lunar iDXA scanner for bone health or any similar BMD scanners</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hygenic Orhodontic Resin (PMMA)</td>
			<td>Patterson Dental Supply</td>
			<td>H02252</td>
			<td>Controlled substance and can be purchased with proper approval</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Freezer</td>
			<td>Kenmore</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>This is a -20oC storage for bones</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>X-ray scanner</td>
			<td>General Electric</td>
			<td>&#160;46-270615P1</td>
			<td>X-ray imaging equipment.&#160;&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>X-ray films</td>
			<td>Kodak</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Used to display x-ray images</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>X-ray developer</td>
			<td>Kodak X-Omatic</td>
			<td>M35A X-OMAT&#160;</td>
			<td>Used for developing X-ray images</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>X-ray Cassette</td>
			<td>Kodak X-Omatic</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Used for holding x-ray films</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>5-pound Rice Bags</td>
			<td>Great Value</td>
			<td>N/A&#160;</td>
			<td>Used for mimicking soft tissue during the DXA scanning process</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Physiologic Saline (0.9% Sodium Chloride)</td>
			<td>Baxter</td>
			<td>NDC 0338-0048-04</td>
			<td>Used for keeping samples hydrated</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Scalpels and scrapers</td>
			<td>Bard-Parker</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Used to clean the bone from soft tissue</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cast cutter</td>
			<td>Stryker</td>
			<td>810-BD001</td>
			<td>Used to cut femoral shaft</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Drilling machine</td>
			<td>Bosch</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Used to drill the femoral shaft</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fume Hood</td>
			<td>Hamilton</td>
			<td>70532</td>
			<td>Used for ventilation when using making PMMA</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

proximal cadaveric femur preparation for fracture strength testing and quantitative ct-based finite element analysis

Cadaveric fracture testing is routinely used to understand factors that affect proximal femur strength. Because ex vivo biological tissues are prone to lose their mechanical properties over time, specimen preparation for experimental testing must be performed carefully to obtain reliable results that represent in vivo conditions. For that reason, we designed a protocol and a set of fixtures to prepare the femoral specimens such that their mechanical properties experienced minimal changes. The femora were kept in a frozen state except during preparation steps and mechanical testing. The relevant clinical measures of total hip and femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) were obtained with a clinical dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) bone densitometer, and the 3D geometry and distribution of bone mineral were obtained using CT with a calibration phantom for quantitative estimations based on the greyscale values. Any possible bone disease, fracture, or the presence of implants or artifacts affecting the bone structure, was ruled out with X-ray scans. For preparation, all bones were carefully cleaned of excess soft tissue, and were cut and potted at the internal rotation angle of interest. A cutting fixture allowed the distal end of the bone to be cut off leaving the proximal femur at a desired length. To allow positioning of the femoral neck at prescribed angles during later CT scanning and mechanical testing, the proximal femoral shafts were potted in polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) using a fixture designed specifically for desired orientations. The data collected from our experiments were then used for validation of quantitative computed tomography (QCT)-based finite element analysis (FEA), as described in a different protocol. In this manuscript, we present the protocol for the precise bone preparation for mechanical testing and subsequent QCT/FEA modeling. The current protocol was successfully applied to prepare about 200 cadaveric femora over a 6-year time period.

The cadaveric femora were shipped frozen and maintained at -20 &#176;C until preparation began. BMD scanning was performed using a DXA scanner to measure total hip and neck BMD as well as T-score for each specimen (Figure 1). A T-score is the number of standard deviations of the measured BMD compared to average values for young healthy subjects. It can range from -2.5 or lower for osteoporotic bones, between -1 and -2.5 for osteopenic bones and higher than -1 for normal b...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Proximal Cadaveric Femur Preparation for Fracture Strength Testing and Quantitative CT-based Finite Element Analysis at JoVE.com

Proximal Cadaveric Femur Preparation for Fracture Strength Testing and Quantitative CT-based Finite Element Analysis

We present a robust protocol on how to carefully preserve and prepare cadaveric femora for fracture testing and quantitative computed tomography imaging. The method provides precise control over input conditions for the purpose of determining relationships between bone mineral density, fracture strength, and defining finite element model geometry and properties.

Cadaveric fracture testing is routinely used to understand factors that affect proximal femur strength.  Because ex vivo biological tissues are prone to ...

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