Assessment of Bone Strength Equivalent to Osteoporosis by Finite Element Analysis of Opportunistic CT Scans

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K08154
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 52040:Radiological sciences-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Mawatari Taro 九州大学, 医学研究院, 共同研究員 (60335974)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 骨粗鬆症 / 骨強度 / 日本人

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Finite Element Analysis (FEA) using clinical QCT data is the most accurate way to calculate bone strength. Estimated bone strength can now be evaluated without a phantom, using existing CT data of the abdominal pelvic region. To use this in clinical practice, a reference value is needed for bone fragility in the Japanese population. In this retrospective study, up to 21 cases in each 5-year age group of Japanese women were randomly selected. Vertebral bone strength was estimated using CT data from 120 Japanese female patients, compared with bone mineral density measurements. Mean Z-score of lumbar spine bone mineral density (-0.022) represented average Japanese population. Osteoporosis-equivalent and osteopenia-equivalent vertebral bone strengths for Japanese women were 4000N and 5500N, respectively. These values were 500N lower than established values for American women. These findings provide a reference value for future use in the Japanese population.

Free Research Field

整形外科学、骨粗鬆症

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、日本人女性の既存CTデータを使用して骨減少症と骨粗鬆症相当の骨強度を算出し、日本人女性の骨粗鬆症相当椎体強度がアメリカ人女性よりも低いことが明らかになった。この結果から、体格の劣る日本人女性の骨粗鬆症の診断と治療には、米国とは異なる基準が必要であることが示唆された。本研究で策定した日本人女性の骨減少症・骨粗鬆症相当脊椎骨強度は、今後本手法を日本人に用いる場合の基準となることが期待される。