The mechanical properties of human tibial trabecular bone as a function of metaphyseal location

Experimental determination of the elastic modulus and ultimate strength of human tibial trabecular bone as a function of metaphyseal location is presented. A 1 cm cubic matrix with planes parallel to the subchondral plate was defined on five fresh frozen cadaver tibias. Approximately 400, 7 mm X 10 mm cylindrical bone plugs were cut from the locations defined by the matrix and tested in uniaxial compressive stress at a strain rate of 0.1%S-1. Results of the study indicate that the trabecular bone properties vary as much as two orders of magnitude from one location to another. As might be predicted from Wolff's law, and noted by previous investigators, concentrations of strength arise from the medial and lateral metaphyseal cortices toward the major medial and lateral contact regions. These results may be valuable for improved analytical modeling and optimal prosthetic design.