A method of determining biomechanical properties of trabeculae and other tissue obtained from cancellous bone

With the aim of determining the biomechanical properties of cancellous bone, a method was developed that permits the investigation of the effects of tensile and compressive forces on cancellous bone trabeculae while eliminating the problem of porosity. Individual, rod-like trabeculae were removed from cancellous bone with the aid of special instruments. Each end of a trabeculae was embedded in a cylinder of polymethylmethacrylate. To keep bending moments to a minimum while testing, the trabeculae was aligned along the longitudinal axis of the cylinders with the aid of positioning instruments. With a test apparatus, the deformation behaviour and maximum strength of the trabeculae under tension and compression can be determined under both dry and moist conditions. With account being taken of shape and dimensions of the trabeculae, the material properties of the cancellous bone tissue can be computed. In comparison with the small number of methods so far used for investigating trabeculae, a number of advantages were found: 1. Tensile and compression testing in a single specimen, 2. testing under reliably moist conditions, 3. non-destructive testing enabling further investigations on the specimen.