The aim of this study is to obtain an easy method of characterization of individual bone strength. As it is intended to be useful particularly for traumatisms due to car crash tests, it was decided to use the measurement of breaking energy, rather than the results of the classical test of bearing load in an ordinary low flexion loading. It is possible to consider that bone strength is influenced by an important number of parameters, such as geometrical dimensions, cortical thickness, opacity of cortical bone, mineral contents, and so on. In this study a simple test through studying the level of opacity of bone radiographies is described which is able to integrate the effect of the most important parameters and which gives overall information about bone strength.
Abstract