Bone-mass distribution in the femur. A cadaver study on the relations of structure and strength.

We measured the bone density and volume in the femoral head, cervicotrochanteric, midshaft, and condylar regions by quantitative computed tomography of the femora of 26 elderly cadavers. We also measured the shearing force at fracture of the femora in axial bending; 25 fractures occurred vertically in the neck and only one in the shaft. The bone mass-related measurements, calculated as the product of bone density times volume, increased steadily from the femoral neck down to the condyles. The bone densities of males and females did not differ, whereas the bone volumes were higher in males. Several correlations were found between the ultimate shearing force of the cervical trabecular/cortical bone and cortical and cancellous bone densities in different locations of the femur. The ultimate shearing force was correlated with the bone mass in all the locations.