Bone mineral content and mechanical strength of the femoral neck

Dalén, Nils<sup>1,2</sup>; Hellström, Lars-Gösta<sup>1,2</sup>; Jacobson, Bertil<sup>1,2</sup>

Affiliations

¹Department of Medical Engineering, Karolinska Institute

²Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Karolinska Sjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract and keywords

The bone mineral content of the femoral neck of 61 autopsy specimens was assayed by x-ray spectrophotometry. The mechanical strength of the specimens was also determined experimentally by applying a compressive force perpendicularly to the shaft. The ultimate force at fracture was obtained from force/displacement plots. a coefficient of correlation of 0.89 between bone mineral content of the femoral neck and the ultimate force at fracture was found. Even when limited to a group of women aged 67–80 a fairly close correlation was found. This indicates that the bone mineral level, measured in vivo, can be used as a criterion of the risk of fracture in elderly women.

Keywords: femoral neck, mechanical strength, bone mineral content, x-ray spectrophotometry

Links

DOI: 10.3109/17453677608988728

PubMed: 998185

WoS: A1976CN11000006

History

Accepted: 1976-05-18

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