Presentation: 2025 ND EPSCoR Annual conference
October 21, 2025, NDSU Memorial Union, Fargo, North Dakota
Restoring Vertebral Structural Integrity Through Optimization of Bone Cement Properties
Mehran
Fereydoonpour
Doctoral Student
North Dakota State University
Co-authors: Asghar Rezaei, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Lichun Lu, Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Mariusz Ziejewski, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, North Dakota State University, Ghodrat Karami, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, North Dakota State University
Session
Poster number: 4
Ballroom
Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the optimal augmentation material that can restore the structural integrity of vertebrae by comparing five different bone cements with varying elastic moduli. Methods: A validated quantitative computed tomography-based finite element analysis (QCT/FEA) framework was employed and calibrated against experimental cadaveric data. Vertebral bodies with simulated defects of two sizes (20% and 50%) were augmented using five materials with elastic moduli ranging from 50 MPa to 2500 MPa. Fracture forces were evaluated across six vertebrae to determine how augmentation material stiffness influences vertebral strength restoration. Results: The QCT/FEA models demonstrated excellent agreement with experimental data (R² = 0.96). Among the tested materials, an elastic modulus of approximately 300 MPa consistently restored vertebral strength to levels comparable to or exceeding intact conditions for both augmentation sizes. Stiffer materials (≥1000 MPa) provided limited additional strength gains, while softer materials (<300 MPa) failed to fully recover the lost strength. Conclusions: An augmentation material with an elastic modulus of around 300 MPa offers the most favorable balance for restoring vertebral structural integrity. The developed patient-specific QCT/FEA framework provides a robust tool for preclinical evaluation and can guide the optimization of bone cement formulations for personalized vertebral augmentation strategies.