Citation

Ambrose CG, Soto Martinez M, Bi X, Deaver J, Kuzawa C, Schwartz L, Dawson B, Bachim A, Polak U, Lee B, Crowder C. Bone 2018; 113: 151-160.

Affiliation

Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, United States.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.bone.2018.05.015

PMID

29800692

Abstract

Although an understanding of bone material properties is crucial for interpreting and predicting fracture patterns due to injury or defining the effects of disease on bone strength, information about infant bone properties is scant in the literature. In this study we present the mechanical testing results from 47 tibia and 52 rib specimens taken from 53 infant decedents in order to further our understanding of infant bone strength. Bone specimens were imaged using microCT and tested in three-point bending until failure. Extrinsic and intrinsic properties demonstrated an increase in strength and stiffness over the first year of life, while ductility measures remained largely unchanged. Donor race had no effect on the material properties, but tibia bone specimens showed significant sex differences, with the elastic modulus from females being larger than males. When compared to properties from adolescent and adult donors, infant bone is less strong, less stiff, and more ductile.

Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Biomechanics; Infant bone; Material properties; Post-yield behavior; Rib fracture; Three-point bending