Pretty Porous
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What is Osteoporosis?

As we age, our bones lose their bone mass. That means that the density drops, their cavities become larger and the stability of the bones decreases. This disease is called osteoporosis. Osteoporosis therefore often results in bone fractures.

Healthy bone structure and Osteoporotic bone structure
Credits: PantherMedia / Teguh Mujiono
Healthy (left) and Osteoporotic vertebrae (middle), bone fracture (right)
Credits: PantherMedia / Artemida-psy und rob3000

Stabilization of fractured vertabrae

One of the procedures for stabilisation of (fractured) vertabrae is the so-called “percutaneous vertebroplasty”. This treatment method allows physicians to “refill” and stabilize the bone by injecting the so-called “bone cement” into the vertebrae of patients suffering from osteoporosis. Step by step, few milliliters of bone cement are injected while repeatedly checking the spread of the bone cement by means of X-rays. The “liquid” bone cement hardens within approximately 20 minutes and stabilizes the bone.

Syringe for the surgical procedure
Credits: AO Foundation Davos / Dominic Gehweiler
Experiment: Aluminium foam cement injection into an artificial bone structure
Credits: AO Foundation Davos / Dominic Gehweiler

Animation of a clinical CT of a vertebroplasty in a human 3rd lumbar vertebra
Credits: AO Foundation Davos / Dominic Gehweiler

Animation of a clinical CT of a vertebroplasty in a human 3rd lumbar vertebra
Credits: AO Foundation Davos / Dominic Gehweiler

International cooperation

The University of Stuttgart* in collaboration with the AO Research Institute Davos* (Switzerland) perform joint research in this field. Scientists at the University of Stuttgart use the experimental data from Davos to generate simulations. This knowledge can help physicians to better understand vertebroplasty and improve this treatment method. Furthermore, these simulations are also important to detect and avoid possible complications (e.g. bone cement leakage, damage to the nerves in the spine, etc.).

*Oliver Röhrle (University of Stuttgart) / Boyko Gueorguiev-Rüegg (AO Foundaitio, Davos)

Experiment: CT images of a contrast agent injection (similar to bone cement) and the spread of the mass
Credits: AO Foundation Davos / Dominic Gehweiler

Simulation of a bone cement injection and the spread of the mass
Credits: University of Stuttgart / Christian Bleiler

In-depth text of the simulation of a bone cement infection and the spread of the mass.