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Fracture failure mechanisms in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta
Author(s) -
Alman Benjamin,
Frasca Peter
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of orthopaedic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1554-527X
pISSN - 0736-0266
DOI - 10.1002/jor.1100050118
Subject(s) - osteogenesis imperfecta , fracture (geology) , medicine , orthodontics , materials science , anatomy , composite material
This investigation examines the failure mechanism of bone from patients with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). Mechanical testing and ultrastructural analysis of surgically obtained bone specimens, from patients with OI and from approximately age matched normal controls, were performed. Small rectangular bone samples (1.0 mm × 1.2 mm × 15mm) with a prismatic cross section were put under three‐point bending to determine the work to fracture. Furthermore, the fracture surface was observed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM observation of partially dissected lamellae was also performed to determine the collagen organization of the bone. The OI bone has a consistently lower work to fracture and reduced collagen organization than the normal controls. The fracture surface of the OI bone is rough and exhibits a “pull‐out” type of morpholgy, as opposed to the smoother fracture surface of the controls. This study shows that a relatively simple mechanical test utilizing a small amount of bone can differentiate between a diseased state (OI) and a normal state of bone.