Mechanical properties of cancellous bone at human femoral head

Abstract

Mechanical properties of cancellous bone was studied usingspecimens from human femoral heads obtained during surgery.Microphotographs of cancellous bone specimens were taken and theywere examined wheter if there was any relation between microsjructure andmechanical properties.Microhardness measurements of cancellous bone demonstrated valuesvarying between 16 and 67 D.P.H. with an average of 29.8 D.P.H.Penetration tests utilizing an 78.5 mm2 indenter produced thepenetration strength values changing between 1.99 MPa and 35.91 MPa withan average of 7.39 MPa for cancellous bone.High correlation coefficients between CT values and penetrationstrength (r=O.733l have encouraged for in vivo estimation of cancel lousbone properties using quantitative computed tomography which may become anuseful tool in certain clinical applications.