Relationships between bone morphology and bone elastic properties can be accurately quantified using high-resolution computer reconstructions

With the use of high resolution 3D computer reconstructions of trabecular bone specimen for stereophotometry and for microstructural finite element models to simulate mechanical test, unbiased comparisons become feasible. The purpose of this was to investigate if accurate and complete relationships can be established this way. Four different fabric measures were considered: mean intercept lengths and three volume-based ones. All fabric measures performed equally well. Volume fraction and fabric measures correlated highly with the apparent elastic properties of bone samples, provided that anisotropy and nonhomogeneity in the elastic properties of trabecular bone itself have negligible effects on the apparent properties. [36 Refs; In English]