Multiscale imaging and mechanical testing dataset of human proximal femora (FEMHALS)

Summary This dataset contains imaging and mechanical data for a set of 94 human femora. Specifically, the following data is available: QCT images of the whole bone 3D DXA reconstructions of the proximal femur uCT images of the proximal femur uCT images of the femoral neck Mechanical data from compressive experimental tests of the femoral neck and corresponding homogenized finite element (hFE) and micro-finite element (uFE) simulations Sample Information The samples presented in this dataset originate from 47 donors (25 females, 19 males and 3 unknown) aged 57 to 96 years at time of death. For each sample, information about the laterality (left/right bone), age and sex of the donor is available. All specimens were obtained by the Division of Anatomy of the Medical University of Vienna, Austria, with the informed consent of the donors. The file SampleList.csv contains the following information. Sample ID (-) Sample ID, which allows the data in this repository to be linked to other projects using the same femora. For further information, please refer to the projects listed under related works. Side (-) Laterality of bone: Left, Right Age (year) Donor age in years at time of death Sex (-) Donor sex: Female, Male QCT-Folder (-) Folder name containing QCT images (whole bone) uCT proximal femur (-) Scan ID for uCT scans of the proximal femur uCT femoral neck (-) Scan ID for uCT scans of the femoral neck 3D DXA (-) Scan ID for 2D DXA / 3D DXA reconstructions Missing values are denoted with NA. Methods A detailed description of the methods related to the presented data can be found in the associated publications: Voumard, Benjamin, et al. "Influence of aging on mechanical properties of the femoral neck using an inverse method." Bone reports 17 (2022): 101638. Dudle, Alice, et al. "2D-3D reconstruction of the proximal femur from DXA scans: Evaluation of the 3D-Shaper software." Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 11 (2023): 1111020. Data QCT (whole bone) QCT imaging was conducted at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Bern, Switzerland, on a CT scanner (SOMATOM Definition AS, Siemens, Germany) with a resolution of 0.48 × 0.48 × 0.6 mm. Scans included a calibration phantom (BDC 700 mm with six inserts, QRM, Germany). For each donor, the QCT reconstruction (.IMA), topogram (.IMA), dose report (.SR) and scan protocol (.IMA) are available. 3D DXA Reconstructions (proximal femur) DXA scans were taken on a regularly calibrated Lunar iDXA (GE, United States) located at a satellite site of the Department of Osteoporosis, Inselspital Bern, Switzerland. The femora were placed between two plastic bags filled with water, which mimic X-ray attenuation of soft tissues. Original DXA scans are available in .mef format. The file DXA_results.csv contains the following information: Sample ID Sample ID, which allows the data in this repository to be linked to other projects using the same femora. For further information, please refer to the projects listed under related works. Scan ID ID of the corresponding DXA scan neck aBMD (g/cm2) Areal bone mineral density (aBMD) of the femoral neck expressed in g hydroxyapatite per cm2. neck t-score (-) T-score of neck region, unitless total aBMD (g/cm2) Areal bone mineral density (aBMD) of the proximal femur expressed in g hydroxyapatite per cm2. total t-score (-) T-score of proximal femur, unitless Furthermore, the DXA scans were reconstructed with the 3D-Shaper software (version 2.10, 3D-Shaper Medical, Barcelona, Spain) and the following output was generated: ScanID.vtk Original 2D DXA image DataMask.vtk 2D binary mask of the femur for the 2D DXA image LandmarkReferences.vtk Position of reconstruction landmarks OutputExteriorCorticalMesh.vtk 3D surface mesh of external cortical surface OutputExteriorLabelled.vtk 3D surface mesh of external cortical surface containing the following information: Segmentation mask for medial/lateral intertrochanteric region Segmentation mask for medial/lateral neck region Segmentation mask for medial/lateral shaft region Segmentation mask for neck, greater trochanter and shaft region Surface density (mg/cm^2) Cortical thickness (mm) T-score Z-score OutputImageLabelled.vtk 3D segmentation mask for femoral neck, greater trochanter and lesser trochanter/shaft areas OutputInteriorCorticalMesh.vtk 3D surface mesh of interior cortical surface OutputIntermediateMesh.vtk Intermediate 3D surface mesh OutputMask.vtk 2D binary mask of reconstruction area OutputProjection.vtk Simulated 2D projection from 3D reconstruction OutputVolume.vtk 3D volume, volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) [mg/cm^3] OutputClinicalParameters.csv Summary file of various clinical parameters The file DefinitionClinicalParameters.pdf located in the 3D DXA folder provides an explanation of all variables in the OutputClinicalParameters.csv file. uCT Images of Proximal Femur The proximal femora were scanned with a micro-CT (μCT 100, Scanco Medical, Switzerland) at 34 μm spatial resolution and are available in .ISQ format. Due to the large file size, the scans are not stored on this zenodo repository but are available on request. For additional information, please contact [e-mail]. uCT Images of Femoral Neck The neck sections were scanned with a micro-CT (μCT 100, Scanco Medical, Switzerland) at 16 μm spatial resolution and are available in .ISQ format. Due to the large file size, the scans are not stored on this zenodo repository but are available on request. For additional information, please contact [e-mail]. Mechanical Data of Femoral Neck Apparent elastic modulus, yield stress and strength were determined for each sample by means of compressive experimental testing, hFE and uFE analysis. The femoral neck samples were loaded with a servo-hydraulic testing machine (Mini Bionix 858, MTS Systems Co., USA) by applying a compressive strain of 0.35% for five cycles at 0.5 mm/min. Displacements were measured with an extensometer (laserXtens 1-15HP, Zwick-Roell, Germany), while the forces were recorded with a load cell (662-04D, MTS Systems Co., USA). Corresponding hFE and uFE simulations were created based on QCT and uCT images, respectively. The results are available in .csv format containing the following information. Sample Sample ID, which allows the data in this repository to be linked to other projects using the same femora. For further information, please refer to the projects listed under related works. BVTV (-) Bone volume to total volume, calculated as the ratio of the segmented bone volume over the total neck volume in uCT scans, unitless aBMD (gHA/cm2) Areal bone mineral density, determined from DXA scans, expressed in g hydroxyapatite per cm^2 TMD corrected (mgHA/cm3) Tissue mineral density, expressed in mg hydroxyapatite per cm^3, was calculated by averaging the bone mineral density (BMD) of the segmented bone volume in uCT scans and is prone to partial volume effect. It was therefore corrected to be independent of the ratio of the bone surface over bone volume. Grayscale uCT images were converted into bone BMD by using a calibration phantom from the manufacturer. E Experiment (GPa) Apparent elastic modulus identified from experimental force-displacement curves calculated as the stiffness multiplied by the sample's height and divided by the mean cross-section area along the neck axis, expressed in GPa Yield Stress Experiment (MPa) Yield stress identified from experimental force-displacement curves calculated as the yield force divided by the mean cross-section area, expressed in MPa Strength Experiment (MPa) Strength identified from experimental force-displacement curves calculated as the ultimate force divided by the mean cross-section area, expressed in MPa E uFE (GPa) Apparent elastic modulus identified from uFE force-displacement curves calculated as the stiffness multiplied by the sample's height and divided by the mean cross-section area along the neck axis, expressed in GPa Yield Stress uFE (MPa) Yield stress identified from uFE force-displacement curves calculated as the yield force divided by the mean cross-section area, expressed in MPa Strength uFE (MPa) Strength identified from uFE force-displacement curves calculated as the ultimate force divided by the mean cross-section area, expressed in MPa E hFE (GPa) Apparent elastic modulus identified from hFE force-displacement curves calculated as the stiffness multiplied by the sample's height and divided by the mean cross-section area along the neck axis, expressed in GPa Yield Stress hFE (MPa) Yield stress identified from hFE force-displacement curves calculated as the yield force divided by the mean cross-section area, expressed in MPa Strength hFE (MPa) Strength identified from hFE force-displacement curves calculated as the ultimate force divided by the mean cross-section area, expressed in MPa Missing values are denoted with NA. Data Access Access to this repository is restricted for data protection and privacy reasons. To request access to this dataset, please submit a request through Zenodo and provide a brief description of the intended use of the data. Access will be granted only after completion and signing of a Data Transfer and Use Agreement. Contact Philippe Zysset ([e-mail]) for further questions. Related Works Associated Publications Voumard, Benjamin, et al. "Influence of aging on mechanical properties of the femoral neck using an inverse method." Bone reports 17 (2022): 101638. Dudle, Alice, et al. "2D-3D reconstruction of the proximal femur from DXA scans: Evaluation of the 3D-Shaper software." Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 11 (2023): 1111020. Other Projects Using the Same Femur Samples Simon, M., Gerber, G.& Zysset, P. (2026). FEXHIS dataset for automatic segmentation of cortical bone microstructure [Dataset]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21666670 Bracher, S., Kochetkova, T., Gerber, G.& Zysset, P. (2026). Tensile properties of bone collagen in the human proximal femur (FEMCOL) [Dataset]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21804708