TRANSFORMING FRACTURE RISK
ASSESSMENT FOR CANCER PATIENTS
WITH VERTEBRAL METASTASES
Computer-aided effective fracture risk stratification of patients with vertebral metastases for personalised treatment through robust computational models validated in clinical settings

METASTRA Clinical and Experimental Analyses Workshop Successfully Held in Bologna

METASTRA Clinical and Experimental Analyses Workshop Successfully Held in Bologna

The METASTRA Clinical and Experimental Analyses Workshop took place from March 11th to 13th, 2025, at the University of Bologna, bringing together leading experts in spinal metastases and biomechanics. The event provided valuable insights into both the clinical and technical aspects of vertebral metastases and spine mechanics.

Clinical Aspects of METASTRA

The workshop commenced with a session on Clinical Management of Vertebral Metastases, held on March 11th at the Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute. Key discussions included:

  • Identification of metastases from clinical images
  • Risks associated with metastatic vertebrae
  • Treatment options and decision-making
  • A live demonstration on an ex vivo specimen

Technical Aspects

The second and third days focused on the mechanical testing and analysis of spine segments at UniBo - DIN, Biomech Lab, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Bologna.

On March 12th, the session on How to Prepare a Spine Segment for Mechanical Tests featured:

  • Extraction of a spine segment from the entire spine
  • Proper alignment for mechanical testing

Later that day, a session on How to Test a Spine Segment: Mechanical Tests Combining Spine Simulation and Digital Image Correlation covered:

  • Compression, torsion, flexion, and lateral bending tests

The workshop concluded on March 13th with a session on How to Analyse Digital Image Correlation Data, which explored:

  • Measurement uncertainty assessment
  • Displacement and strain analysis

The METASTRA workshop successfully bridged the gap between clinical practice and experimental research, providing attendees with invaluable knowledge and hands-on experience. Researchers, clinicians, and engineers working in spinal biomechanics and oncology greatly benefited from the discussions and demonstrations.