Long-term measurement of bone strain in vivo: the rat tibia
Despite the importance of strain in regulating bone metabolism, knowledge of strains induced in bone in vivo during normal activities is limited to short-term studies. Biodegeneration of the bond between gauge and bone is the principle cause of this limitation. To overcome the problem of bond degene...
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Published in | Journal of biomedical materials research Vol. 58; no. 3; p. 277 |
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Main Authors | , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
United States
2001
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get more information |
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Summary: | Despite the importance of strain in regulating bone metabolism, knowledge of strains induced in bone in vivo during normal activities is limited to short-term studies. Biodegeneration of the bond between gauge and bone is the principle cause of this limitation. To overcome the problem of bond degeneration, a unique calcium phosphate ceramic (CPC) coating has been developed that permits long-term attachment of microminiature strain gauges to bone. Using this technique, we report the first long-term measurements of bone strain in the rat tibia. Gauges, mounted on the tibia, achieved peak or near peak bonding at 7 weeks. Measurements were made between 7-10 weeks. Using ambulation on a treadmill, the pattern and magnitude of strain measured in the tibia remained relatively constant between 7-10 weeks post implantation. That strain levels were similar at 7 and 10 weeks suggests that gauge bonding is stable. These data demonstrate that CPC-coated strain gauges can be used to accurately measure bone strain for extended periods, and provide an in vivo assessment of tibial strain levels during normal ambulation in the rat. |
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ISSN: | 0021-9304 |
DOI: | 10.1002/1097-4636(2001)58:3<277::AID-JBM1017>3.0.CO;2-T |