Scientists at Lund University have introduced a pioneering 3D bone modeling approach that could prevent thousands of life-threatening hip fractures every year. The findings appear in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research and represent a potential breakthrough in fracture prevention.
Osteoporosis is a condition marked by reduced bone density that predominantly affects older adults. It significantly raises the risk of fractures, including breaks in the femur. The current standard for diagnosing osteoporosis relies on X-ray assessments, yet this method misses a sizable portion of people who are at high fracture risk. In many cases, X-ray analysis is first used after a fracture has occurred.
The new modeling method aims to identify individuals at risk before a fracture happens and guide preventive actions. It leverages two dimensional X-ray images gathered during bone density tests to generate three dimensional models of the femur. These models enable predictions about how the bone could behave under stress, such as during a fall, offering a forward-looking view of fracture risk.
In simulations built from data from more than 400 participants, researchers tracked outcomes over the coming decade. While some participants eventually experienced hip fractures, the 3D models demonstrated higher accuracy in predicting fracture risk than traditional bone density measurements.
Using the updated model, researchers were able to flag roughly one thousand additional people each year as high risk for hip fractures. The results indicate that this approach not only enhances fracture prediction but also holds promise for detecting osteoporosis before the first fracture occurs. The study author, Hanna Isaksson, a professor of biomedical engineering at Lund University’s Faculty of Engineering, noted that early detection could improve patients lives and help reduce healthcare costs. He emphasized that identifying at-risk individuals enables targeted preventive measures and timely interventions.
This advances the broader effort to translate advanced imaging and computational modeling into clinical practice, with the aim of reducing hip fracture incidence and improving quality of life for people living with osteoporosis. The research underscores the value of combining existing imaging data with innovative analysis to uncover hidden risks and personalize prevention strategies. Continued work is expected to refine the models, validate them in larger populations, and explore how they can be integrated into routine care to provide real-time risk assessment and guided treatment planning. Attribution for the study comes from Lund University and its collaborators in the field of biomedical engineering and bone health research.