A new study from Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences (KL Krems) presents a model that could improve orthopedic surgery outcomes by predicting screw stability before implantation. The findings, published in the Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, show that bone structure measurements can forecast the risk of screw failure under physical stress.
Researchers used micro-CT scans to examine 100 pig bone samples, which are structurally similar to human bone. They tested the screws under 10 loading conditions, including axial, shear, and mixed forces. Among the parameters analyzed, bone volume (BV) and bone volume fraction (BV/TV) were the most predictive of screw performance.
Two statistical models were developed: one based solely on bone volume, and another using multiple bone parameters. Both showed high predictive accuracy, explaining between 70% and 90% of the variance in screw failure forces.
These findings could help surgeons identify the most stable screw locations in bone, especially beneficial for patients with osteoporosis or compromised bone quality. The study highlights how biomechanics and imaging technologies can enhance surgical planning and patient outcomes in orthopedic care.
Article written by Lisa Lock
03/06/2025
Source:
Medical Xpress
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-bone-reveals-optimal-position-fractures.html