Experimental study of the effects of cortical erosion on the resistance to compression of diaphyseal compact bone.

The authors investigated the variations in breakage under comparable compression loads induced by concentric erosion of diaphyseal bone in experimental animals. The results varied according to whether the internal or external cortex had been eroded, and whether the proximal or distal segments of the diaphysis were involved. Our findings appear to have some practical relevance regarding the etiopathogenesis of pathological fractures.