Our technology: bone healing simulation
We deploy digital twins for personalized fracture care and optimized therapy management
The technology has been tested and corroborated for the meta- and diaphyseal sections of long bones for several fracture scenarios.
Our approach enables in-silico testing of different bone types, fracture scenarios and treatment approaches.
Our long-term goal: The simulation of bone healing in the entire human skeleton.
3D distal radius fracture healing simulation
(colors encode bone concentration)
Leveraging available clinical data and information - for an increased patient well-being
Radiological data
Patient information
Osteosynthesis
Loading scenarios
REFERENCES
We build on the extensive scientific groundwork done at Ulm University and by a worldwide community. Our team covers state-of-the-art know-how in fracture healing simulations, with a proven track-record in scientific publications.
A selection of the most important publications:
- Degenhart C, Engelhardt L, Niemeyer F, et al. Computer-Based Mechanobiological Fracture Healing Model Predicts Non-Union of Surgically Treated Diaphyseal Femur Fracture, J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(10), 346
- Schütze K, Engelhardt L, Niemeyer F, et al. Prognose des Konsolidierungszustandes operativ versorgter diaphysärer Femurfrakturen durch eine Computersimulation, Deutscher Kongress für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie (DKOU), Berlin 2022
- Engelhardt L, Niemeyer F, Degenhardt C, et al. Klinische Anwendung der mechano-biologischen Frakturheilungssimulation zur Prognose des Konsolidierungszustandes operativ versorgter diaphysärer Femurfrakturen. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Biomechanik, Köln 2022
- Engelhardt L, Niemeyer F, Christen P, et al. Simulating Metaphyseal Fracture Healing in the Distal Radius. Biomechanics. 2021;1(1):29–42.
- Pietsch M, Niemeyer F, Urban K, et al. Including the Implant Degradation Process in a Fracture Healing Model. In: Proceedings of the 8th World Congress of Biomechanics. Dublin; 2018.
- Pietsch M, Niemeyer F, Simon U, et al. Modelling the fracture-healing process as a moving-interface problem using an interface-capturing approach. Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering. 2018;0(0):1–9.
- Niemeyer F, Claes L, Ignatius A, et al. Simulating lateral distraction osteogenesis. PLOS ONE. 2018;13(3):e0194500.
- Niemeyer F, Trautwein F, Wilke H-J, et al. Optimizing Spinal Fusion Implants Using Bone Healing Simulations. In: Proceedings of the ORS 2017 Annual Meeting. San Diego; 2017.
- Simon U, Niemeyer F. Numerical Simulation of Fracture Healing and Bone Remodelling. In: Simpson H, Augat P, eds. Experimental Research Methods in Orthopedics in Trauma. Stuttgart: Thieme; 2015:181–189.
- Steiner M, Niemeyer F, Claes L, et al. Adjusting Mechanoregulatory Rules for Numerical Fracture Healing Simulation from Sheep to Rat. In: Proceedings of the 12th International Symposium on Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering. Amsterdam; 2014.
- Steiner M, Claes L, Ignatius A, et al. Numerical Simulation of Callus Healing for Optimization of Fracture Fixation Stiffness. Costa-Rodrigues J, ed. PLoS ONE. 2014;9(7):e101370.
- Steiner M, Claes L, Ignatius A, et al. Disadvantages of interfragmentary shear on fracture healing—mechanical insights through numerical simulation. J. Orthop. Res. 2014;32(7):865–872.
- Niemeyer F, Bartolini L, Engelhardt L, et al. Using bone healing simulations to design and optimize a novel spinal fusion implant. In: Proceedings of the 12th International Symposium on Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering. Amsterdam; 2014.
- Steiner M, Claes L, Ignatius A, et al. Prediction of fracture healing under axial loading, shear loading and bending is possible using distortional and dilatational strains as determining mechanical stimuli. J R Soc Interface. 2013;10(86):20130389.
- Engelhardt L, Niemeyer F, et al. A New Bone Implant Concept: AMPLIFIX – First Numerical Results of Dynamic Osseointegration Simulation. In: CBU 2013 proceedings: 18th International Symposium on Computational Biomechanics in Ulm, 2013.
- Wehner T, Claes L, Ignatius A, et al. Optimization of intramedullary nailing by numerical simulation of fracture healing. Journal of Orthopaedic Research. 2012;30(4):569–573.
- Steiner M, Claes L, Ignatius A, et al. Optimization of Input Parameters for Fracture Healing Simulations. In: CBU 2011 proceedings: 17th International Symposium on Computational Biomechanics in Ulm, Jürgen Salk et al. (eds.).; 2011. Available at: http://vts.uni-ulm.de/doc.asp?id=7717.
- Simon U, Augat P, Utz M, et al. A numerical model of the fracture healing process that describes tissue development and revascularisation. Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering. 2011;14(1):79–93.
- Reina-Romo E, Gómez-Benito MJ, Domínguez J, et al. Effect of the fixator stiffness on the young regenerate bone after bone transport: Computational approach. Journal of Biomechanics. 2011;44(5):917–923.
- Wehner T, Claes L, Niemeyer F, et al. Influence of the fixation stability on the healing time — A numerical study of a patient-specific fracture healing process. Clinical Biomechanics. 2010;25(6):606–612.
- Niemeyer F, Wehner T, Claes L, et al. Simulation of the Callus Distraction Treatment. In: Proceedings of the 9th International Symposium on Computer Methods in Biomechanics & Biomedical Engineering. Valencia; 2010.
- Chen G, Niemeyer F, Wehner T, et al. Simulation of the nutrient supply in fracture healing. J Biomech. 2009;42(15):2575–2583.
- Simon U, Wehner T, Niemeyer F, et al. Simulation of the Bone Healing Process. In: Proceedings of ACUM 2006. Stuttgart; 2006.
- Shefelbine SJ, Augat P, Claes L, et al. Trabecular bone fracture healing simulation with finite element analysis and fuzzy logic. Journal of Biomechanics. 2005;38(12):2440–2450.
- Simon U, Augat P, Claes L. 3D fracture healing model can help to explain delayed healing with interfragmentary shear movement compared to axial movement. In: Proceedings of the 6th International Symposium on Computer Methods in Biomechanics & Biomedical Engineering. Madrid; 2004.
- Simon U, Augat P, Claes L. Dynamical Simulation of the Fracture Healing Process Including Vascularity. In: 13th Conference of the European Society of Biomechanics (ESB), Acta of Bioengineering and Biomechanics.Vol 4. Wroclaw, Poland; 2002.
- Ament C, Hofer EP. A fuzzy logic model of fracture healing. J Biomech. 2000;33(8):961–968.
- Claes LE, Heigele CA. Magnitudes of local stress and strain along bony surfaces predict the course and type of fracture healing. J Biomech. 1999;32(3):255–266.