Structure and function of the human patella: the role of cancellous bone

Total joint and other prosthesis often require the removal and replacement of considerable quantities of cancellous bone, and often are anchored in place by grouting into cancellous bone. Thus, a possible source of failure or loosening of many types of prostheses may be rooted in the lack of understanding of the structure, properties, and function of this material. In addition, as we have pointed out before, cancellous bone may play an important biomechanical role in the etiology of joint degeneration. With these considerations in mind, the architecture of the cancellous bone in the human patella was studied by serial sectioning and microradiography, using an improved technique developed in our laboratory. Volumes of cancellous bone with apparently different functional roles were identified. Stereological techniques were used to quantify the structural characteristics and geometrical relationships throughout the patella. These results led to a structural model for the cancellous bone of the patella, and a comprehensive picture of the internal architecture. The distribution of mechanical compliance and yield stress was also measured, as a function of location and orientation, by a specially constructed microcompression testing machine. The measurements reflected the distribution of trabecular architecture, and both the properties and architecture reflected the gross biomechanical function of the patella. Furthermore, a true structure-function relationship was derived. Patellar contact area studies were performed on fresh cadavers and mapped for various angles of flexion. The variation in contact areas and the spatial variations in stiffness are discussed relative to the biomechanics and clinical aspects of the patella.