Elastic properties of the human femur

Patient-specific finite element analysis of bone is a promising method for surgical planning, implant design and the prediction of bone remodelling or fracture risks, yet the assignment of material properties is challenging. Bone is a complicated structure with direction-dependent, inhomogeneous material properties, influenced by compositional, geometrical and architectural aspects. This volume focuses on a density-based assignment of orthotropic bone properties. Elasticity-density relationships in homogenized femoral zones were examined to evaluate the orthotropic density-dependence of the nine elastic material constants locally. Cortical bone samples were tested in compression and torsion tests using videoextensometry to determine the elastic constants. The elastic properties of cancellous bone were predicted by micro finite element analysis. All determined constants were correlated to the radiological bone mineral density of each sample, which was determined by quantitative computed tomography. The trabecular eigensystem was investigated for each cancellous zone to assign the mean directionality of trabecular fabric. The results can be beneficial for density-based orthotropic material assignment in femoral patient-specific finite element models.