Role of cortical bone in hip fracture

In this review, I consider the varied mechanisms in cortical bone that help preserve its integrity and how they deteriorate with aging. Aging affects cortical bone in two ways: extrinsically through its effects on the individual that modify its mechanical loadin...

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Main Author: Reeve, J
Format: Journal article
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2016
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author Reeve, J
author_facet Reeve, J
author_sort Reeve, J
collection OXFORD
description In this review, I consider the varied mechanisms in cortical bone that help preserve its integrity and how they deteriorate with aging. Aging affects cortical bone in two ways: extrinsically through its effects on the individual that modify its mechanical loading experience and “milieu interieur”; and intrinsically through the prolonged cycle of remodeling and renewal extending to an estimated 20 years in the proximal femur. Healthy femoral cortex incorporates multiple mechanisms that help prevent fracture. These have been described at multiple length scales from the individual bone mineral crystal to the scale of the femur itself and appear to operate hierarchically. Each cortical bone fracture begins as a submicroscopic crack that enlarges under mechanical load eg that imposed by a fall. In these conditions, a crack will enlarge explosively unless the cortical bone is intrinsically tough (the opposite of brittle). Toughness leads to microscopic crack deflection and bridging and may be increased by adequate regulation of both mineral crystal size and the heterogeneity of mineral and matrix phases. The role of osteocytes in optimizing toughness is beginning to be worked out; but many osteocytes die in situ without triggering bone renewal over a 20 year cycle, with potential for increasing brittleness. Furthermore, the supero-lateral cortex of the proximal femur thins progressively during life, so increasing the risk of buckling during a fall. Besides preserving or increasing hip BMD, pharmaceutical treatments have class-specific effects on the toughness of cortical bone, while dietary and exercise-based interventions show early promise.
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spelling oxford-uuid:2c34f90f-8f70-499b-ac83-cf9e4ae58e992022-03-26T12:35:38ZRole of cortical bone in hip fractureJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:2c34f90f-8f70-499b-ac83-cf9e4ae58e99Symplectic Elements at OxfordNature Publishing Group2016Reeve, JIn this review, I consider the varied mechanisms in cortical bone that help preserve its integrity and how they deteriorate with aging. Aging affects cortical bone in two ways: extrinsically through its effects on the individual that modify its mechanical loading experience and “milieu interieur”; and intrinsically through the prolonged cycle of remodeling and renewal extending to an estimated 20 years in the proximal femur. Healthy femoral cortex incorporates multiple mechanisms that help prevent fracture. These have been described at multiple length scales from the individual bone mineral crystal to the scale of the femur itself and appear to operate hierarchically. Each cortical bone fracture begins as a submicroscopic crack that enlarges under mechanical load eg that imposed by a fall. In these conditions, a crack will enlarge explosively unless the cortical bone is intrinsically tough (the opposite of brittle). Toughness leads to microscopic crack deflection and bridging and may be increased by adequate regulation of both mineral crystal size and the heterogeneity of mineral and matrix phases. The role of osteocytes in optimizing toughness is beginning to be worked out; but many osteocytes die in situ without triggering bone renewal over a 20 year cycle, with potential for increasing brittleness. Furthermore, the supero-lateral cortex of the proximal femur thins progressively during life, so increasing the risk of buckling during a fall. Besides preserving or increasing hip BMD, pharmaceutical treatments have class-specific effects on the toughness of cortical bone, while dietary and exercise-based interventions show early promise.
spellingShingle Reeve, J
Role of cortical bone in hip fracture
title Role of cortical bone in hip fracture
title_full Role of cortical bone in hip fracture
title_fullStr Role of cortical bone in hip fracture
title_full_unstemmed Role of cortical bone in hip fracture
title_short Role of cortical bone in hip fracture
title_sort role of cortical bone in hip fracture
work_keys_str_mv AT reevej roleofcorticalboneinhipfracture