Measurements of permeability in human calcaneal trabecular bone

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Biomaterials Science
• Orthopedic Research

Background:

• Trabecular bone is a porous, fluid-filled tissue crucial for load-bearing.
• Understanding its hydraulic properties, like permeability, is vital for accurate biomechanical modeling.
• Calcaneal trabecular bone plays a significant role in foot mechanics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To measure the permeability of human calcaneal trabecular bone.
• To investigate the relationship between bone porosity and permeability.
• To provide data for biphasic or poroelastic models of the calcaneus.

Main Methods:

• Cores of trabecular bone (2.36 cm diameter) were extracted from human calcanei (n=16, age 32-89).
• Cores were defatted and tested to determine permeability along the cylinder axis.
• Porosity measurements were correlated with permeability values.

Main Results:

• Permeability values ranged from 0.4-11 x 10(-9)m2.
• A strong linear correlation (r2 = 0.91) was observed between permeability and specimen porosity (78-92%).

Conclusions:

• Bone porosity is a primary determinant of calcaneal trabecular bone permeability.
• The findings offer critical data for developing advanced computational models of the calcaneus.
• This research enhances our understanding of fluid flow within cancellous bone tissue.