Material properties of femoral cancellous bone in axial loading. Part I: Time independent properties.

The time independent material behavior of cylindrical specimens obtained from the cancelous bone of 20 cadaveric human femora were determined. In this part of the publication, the nominal values for compressive strength, limits of elasticity (yield point), strain, elastic modulus and apparent density are being reported for the cancellous bone of the femoral head and condyle. The correlations between the various parameters are analysed. A positive linear correlation between the four parameters compressive stength, limit of elasticity, modulus of elasticity and apparent density could not be excluded. The material properties vary considerably both within one single bone and between individuals. Compressive strength, modulus of elasticity and apparent density found for cancellous bone of the femoral head are greater than those found in the condyles. Within the condyles, compressive strength, elastic modulus and apparent density increase from the proximal parts to the parts closer to the joint. The medial femoral condyle showed higher compressive strength than the lateral one. Relating each of the three other parameters to the apparent density of the individual specimen did not result in equalizing the data for the material properties. This indicates that the mechanical properties of cancellous bone are strongly related to the direction of loading.