[The stresses in femur. I. Intact femur without consideration of the iliotibial tract (author's transl)].

Stresses in femur under different load conditions were computed with the finite element method. The computer model was composed of 1950 spatial elements. The calculated results were confirmed using 34 strain gauge rosettes, attached on the femur surface. The load conditions were chosen as at the stance phase of walking and as standing on two legs. Additionally, the effect of joint forces under different directions were investigated. It is the main conclusion of this work that the computed quantitative results are only relevant when the geometry and the material properties of the metaphysical bone are copied exactly for the computer model.