A model of trabecular bone and an application to osteoporosis

Large bones consists of an outer compact shaft and an inner porous segment, known as the trabecular architecture (TA). The TA is the principal load carrier in bones from older adults, and the aim of therapeutic interventions is to preserve their strength. It is argued that forms for broad-based diagnostic tools for osteoporosis can be identified through an analysis of simple model systems. A model based on elastic networks is introduced, and shows that weak networks can only utilize a small fraction of themselves for stress transmission. This observation is used to argue that the ratio of linear response of a network to DC and AC strain can be used as a surrogate for bone strength. We discuss the possibility of using this measure to identify osteoporotic bone and to monitor the efficacy of therapy.