Abstract
A primary objective of this experimental investigation was to further understand relationships among loading characteristics as they affect the resultant fractures of human long bones (tibia, femur, humerus, and fibula). Numerous human cadaver long bones were loaded in controlled laboratory conditions with varying test parameters such as loading direction, specimen choice, impact velocity, and test method. Data presented in this paper focus on the resultant fracture patterns for the tibia and femur tests. Observations were made based on these data and on the authors' general knowledge with respect to fracture behaviour. These comments draw upon a decade of laboratory experience of dynamically loading human cadaver long bones. (A)