Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 26, 2025

Proximal Cadaveric Femur Preparation for Fracture Strength Testing and Quantitative CT-based Finite Element Analysis
Published on: March 11, 2017
The Proximal Femoral Bone Geometry in Plain Radiographs
David Grevenstein1,2, Boris Vidovic1, Christoph Baltin1,2
1University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine, Department for Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Joseph-Stelzmann Strasse 24, 50931 Cologne, Germany.
Background:
Osteoporosis represents the most common bone disease and has to be respected in planning total hip replacement, especially against the background of increasing uncemented total hip replacement. In this context, the radiographic geometry of the proximal femur got into focus and is controversially discussed.The aim of the presented study was to find any difference regarding known indices for proximal femur bone geometry between patients with high-grade osteoarthritis and patients suffering from a femoral neck fracture caused by low impact trauma.
Methods:
Retrospective matched-paired analysis of 100 plane pelvic radiographs from 50 patients who suffered from high-grade hip osteoarthritis and 50 patients who suffered from femoral neck fracture was performed. Measurement of Canal-Bone Ratio (CBR), Canal-Calcar Ratio (CCR), Mineral Cortical Index (MCI) and Canal Flare Index (CFI) were performed.
Results:
CBR was significantly higher in the fracture-group (0.45 +/- 0.06 vs. 0.41 +/- 0.08) (P-value= 0.008). Moreover, the femoral thickness 10 cm below the trochanter minor [F] was significantly higher in the osteoarthritis-group (34.68 +/- 4.14 vs 32.11 +/- 3.43) (P-value 0.001).
Conclusion:
In conclusion, patients with a femoral neck fracture demonstrated a higher CBR, which indicates a poorer bone quality. In case of planning a THA, the CBR is an index which can easily be measured and can be seen as one decision criterion in THA regarding fixation technique.
Related Concept Videos
Bones of the Lower Limb: Femur and Patella
Compact Bone
Compact bone, also called cortical bone, is the denser, stronger of the two types of bone tissue. It is found under the periosteum and in the diaphyses of long bones, where it provides support and protection. The microscopic structural unit of compact bone is called an osteon, or haversian system. Each osteon is composed of concentric rings of calcified...
Gross Anatomy of Bone
The diaphysis is the tubular shaft that runs between the proximal and distal ends of the bone. The walls of the diaphysis are composed of dense and hard compact bone made of numerous osteons — the functional unit of the compact bone. The hollow region in the diaphysis is called the medullary cavity, which harbors the bone marrow. In infants and children, this marrow cavity is filled with red marrow, whereas in...
Classification of Bones
Long and Short Bones
The appendicular skeleton, particularly the upper and lower limbs, is primarily made of long and short bones. The...
Bones of the Upper Limb: Radius
The radius has a nail-shaped head, and a...

