Anisotropy and inhomogeneity of the trabecular structure can describe the mechanical strength of osteoarthritic cancellous bone

Osteoarthritic cancellous bone was studied to investigate the development of this pathology, and the functional changes it induces in the bone. In order to predict how the morphological alterations of the tissue induced by the pathology can change the mechanical properties of the structure, two different strategies have been used in the literature: (1) emphasising the influence of structural anisotropy; (2) stressing the highly inhomogeneous characteristics of cancellous bone. The aim of the present study was to verify the theory that mechanical strength of osteoarthritic cancellous bone depends both on tissue anisotropy and inhomogeneity.