An ultrasonic method for measuring the elastic properties of human tibial cortical and cancellous bone.

Ultrasonic techniques have been used to measure the elastic properties of bone. Eight human tibiae were used to determine and map the elastic properties of cortical and cancellous bone. The present study shows cortical bone to be at least orthotropic in its material symmetry. The mechanical properties of cortical bone are more homogeneous along the length than around the circumference. The variations in the properties around the quadrant of cortical bone are small, less than 10%, while differences in the properties around the circumference of cancellous bone are more apparent, approximately 5 times those of cortical bone. The elastic properties of cancellous bone exhibited inhomogeneity and some consistency pattern along both the length and the circumference.