Embalmed and fresh frozen human bones in orthopedic cadaveric studies: which bone is authentic and feasible?

Figures & data

Figure 1. Material testing. A. Pauwels III fracture of a human cadaveric specimen after axial loading. The bone was fixed in a metal cylinder. Axial compression was performed via an artificial acetabulum. B. Osteosynthesis failure after pullout testing of a cortex screw.

Table 1. Dimensions of the different bone models. Values are mean (CI)

	Fresh frozen bone	Embalmed bone	Composite bone
Total length (mm)	448 (417–480)	459 (440–478)	485
Diameter at half   of length (mm)	29 (25–33)	29 (28–30)	32
CCD angle (°)	122 (117–127)	122 (119–125)	120

Table 2. Comparison of fresh frozen bone (FFB), embalmed bone (EB), and composite bone (CB) concerning stiffness, pullout forces for cortex and cancellous screws, and axial load until failure. Figures are mean (CI) and all p-values are given

	FFB	EB	CB	FFB vs. EB	FFB vs. CB	EB vs. CB
Stiffness (N/mm)	969 (897–1,039)	999 (875–1,121)	946 (852–1,040)	p = 0.8	p = 0.9	p = 0.6
Pullout force,
cortical screws (N)	1,152 (894–1,408)	1,461 (880–2,042)	5,536 (5,203–5,867)	p = 0.4	p < 0.001	p < 0.001
cancellous screws (N)	654 (471–836)	595 (365–823)	2,344 (2,068–2,620)	p = 0.9	p < 0.001	p < 0.001
Axial load until failure (N)	3,427 (2564–4290)	3,603 (2,898–4,306)	> 7,952	p = 0.4	p < 0.01	p < 0.01

Figure 2. A typical profile observed for the pullout testing of a cortical screw.