| Models describing the impact of mechanical stimuli on bone fracture healing can be used to design improved fixation devices and optimize clinical treatment. Existing models however, are limited because they fail to consider the changing fracture callus morphology and probabilistic behavior of biological systems. To resolve these issues, the Equilibrium Geometry Theory (EGT) was conceptualized and when coupled with a mechanoregulation algorithm for differentiation, it provides a way to simulate cell processes at the fracture site. A three-dimensional, anisotropic random walk model with an adaptive finite element domain was developed for studying the entire course of fracture healing based on EGT fundamentals. Although a coarse cell dispersal lattice and finite element mesh were used for analyses, the computational platform provides exceptional latitude for visualizing the growth and remodeling of tissue. Preliminary parameter and sensitivity studies show that simulations can be fine-tuned for a wide variety of clinical and research applications. |
