Numerical Analysis of Electromechanically Driven Bone Remodeling Using the Open-source Software Framework

Natural bone remodeling is the mechanism that regulates the relationship between bone morphology and external mechanical loads applied to it. This phenomenon has been studied extensively, including multiple numerical models that have been formulated to predict the density distribution and its evolution in several bone types. However, despite these models, bone remodeling mechanism under different stimuli is still not well understood. We implemented a recently proposed electromechanically driven bone remodeling model that encompasses both mechanical and therapeutic electrical stimuli using an open-source software framework, and studied a two-dimensional (2D) plate model and a femur bone model, respectively. For discretization, we employed the finite element method (FEM) for the spatial quantities and Euler scheme for the time derivatives. The simulation results demonstrate that the density distribution is changed under electrical stimulation, generally resulting in a greater mass deposition. This study supports the possibility of enhancing and accelerating the bone remodeling process via simultaneous application of electrical and mechanical stimulus.