Can synthetic bone models approximate the mechanical properties of cadaveric first metatarsal bone?

The authors evaluated the value of plastic foam models for approximating the mechanical properties of cadaveric bone. Three mechanical tests (3-point bending, cantilevered load to failure, screw push-out) were performed to evaluate the performance of fresh (nonpreserved) human metatarsals, plastic solid foam anatomic models, and modified anatomic models. The test results indicate that plastic models may simulate the mechanical properties of natural bone in tests in which only elastic deformation is achieved. However, under circumstances where load is applied until material failure, the mechanical properties vary dramatically. These tests indicate that specific goals should be established with these results in mind, when planning mechanical testing studies with either plastic or cadaveric models.