Relationship between Mechanical Property of Cancellous Bone and Hardness of Trabeculae

Abstract

Macroscopic bone properties depend on the microscale structural organization and the properties of microstructural elements. In the case of cancellous bone, the network structure of trabeculae, i.e., bar/plate bone elements of submillimeter diameter/thickness, results in the anisotropic properties as a porous media, and it is important to investigate the mechanical properties of cancellous bone with relation to the microstructural and micromechanical properties of trabeculae. Efforts have been devoted for the mechanical test of single trabecula in this context. In this article, the mechanical property of single trabecula was examined by means of Vickers hardness test, and the content of hydroxyapatite crystals was evaluated by X-ray diffraction analysis. The results were discussed relating to the macroscopic mechanical and structural properties of cancellous bone.