Compressive strength mapping of femoral head trabecular bone

The purpose of this study was to develop a test protocol and complete a relative three-dimensional mapping of the local trabecular bone compressive strengths in healthy and osteoarthritic femoral heads. Five fresh frozen cadaveric femoral heads were compared to five fresh frozen osteoarthritic femoral heads obtained from patients undergoing total hip replacement. Each femoral head was coronally sectioned into eight 5 mm slices, which were compression-tested at 20 sites using a hydraulic testing machine. The results of the femoral head compressive strengths were normalized, mapped, and evaluated. The test protocol produced reproducible results and allowed the determination of diseased portions of osteoarthritic bone. The regions of high compressive strength were similar for normal and diseased bone and were located in the superior medial portions of the head. Ultimate stress was higher in diseased bone than in normal bone, while the yield point and stiffness of diseased bone was lower than for healthy bone.