[Study of the talus and calcaneus using microdurometry, penetrometry and compression]

The authors give the results of various methods such as hardness micrometry, indentation tests and the radiographic study of fracture patterns, which they have applied to the talus and to the calcaneus. It appeared to them that: --these techniques outline the phenomenon of rupture behaviour of both talus and calcaneus; --the talus behaves as a fragile type of material whereas the calcaneus is of the intermediate type. The authors therefore think that these methods can be of great interest in a better understanding of the biomechanical properties of bone.