The influence of different bone remodeling equations on a 2-D vertebra model in the final bone density distribution

The phenomenon of bone remodeling is a complex biological process which is dependent on genetic, hormonal, metabolic and age-related. Being familiar with the mechanisms of bone remodeling is of great importance for implant design and metabolic diseases such as osteoporosis, since it enables monitoring of bone tissue. The bone remodeling phenomenon can be described mathematically and simulated in a computer model, integrated with the finite element method. Important parameters in such a model are the geometry and the mechanical loading caused by everyday activities and the bone remodeling equation itself. Therefore, this paper deals with the biomechanical modeling of the bone remodeling process on a simplified geometry of a fifth lumbar vertebra (L5). A baseline bone remodeling equation, retrieved in the literature has been used, and the values of its coefficients have been varied in order to evaluate their effect on the description of the bone remodeling phenomenon. This way different bone remodeling conditions have been simulated. Likewise, two nonlinearities, i.e. the bone remodeling coefficient and the order of non-linear remodeling equation have been introduced. The influence of each non-linearity was investigated and its mechanical implications have been reported.