INTERFERENCES EFFECTS BETWEEN OSTEOCYTES LOCATED AT THE SAME ZONE DURING BONE REMODELING PERIOD: A THEORETICAL AND NUMERICAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Several analytical models have been developed in the past to analyze the specific role of osteocytes in the process of bone remodeling, which can be considered as the response of bone material to functional requirements. Most of them considered both the number of osteocytes and their spatial distribution in one area of influence, while others suggested in addition to include considerations of the size of the basic multi-cellular unit. Methods: Taking advantage of previous works, the standard model equation is revisited by incorporating two complementary parameters: (a) the possibility of resorption of osteocytes, apoptosis or function inhibition during remodeling process triggered by the transduction phase of osteocytes embedded within the bone matrix and; (b) the interference of influence zones for the same osteocyte. Results: Bone density evolution has been calculated starting with a medical imaging of an implanted femur. It is shown that the management of interference zone and the possibility of resorption or inhibition of osteocytes have a direct impact upon the value of the mechanical stimulus and hence on the recruitment of Bone Multicellular Units (BMUs). From a mathematical point of view, this effect has been considered by modifying mechanical stimulus of the standard model such that it is impacted by a scalar factor ranged in the interval (0.5–1). Conclusion: It is clearly demonstrated that predicted of the added bone mass amount shows that the new model is more active in low density regions where requiring rapid adaptation to the behavior of the implant, and that the standard model takes the lead in the regions with high density.