Ultrasonic characterisation in determining elastic modulus of trabecular bone material.

The pulse transmission ultrasonic technique is used to characterise the actual pathway and the wavelength dependence in relation to the bone specimen and microstructural dimensions. The average velocity through individual trabecular bone is 2901 m s-1 (SD 161), and the mean velocity through cylindrical cancellous bone specimens is 2717 m s-1 (SD 171). Thus, the velocity through cylindrical cancellous bone specimens is underestimated by as much as 6.4% of that through individual trabeculae. There is a statistically significant difference in the ultrasonic velocity between individual trabeculae and cylindrical cancellous bone specimens (p = 0.0012).