Compression test of the mandibular cortical bone: A cadaver study assessing formalin treated or macerated bone specimens

Abstract Nowadays the examination of implants from engineering point of view is becoming more and more supported in the medical fi eld. Instead of the more problematic cadaver examination, the computer based simulations are growing more popular. The examinations must be validated to be able to stay with the realistic situation. Using these engineering methods it became possible to do measurements on the reconstructions of a human resectioned mandible. The creation of the bone models is one of the most varying fields in the biomechanical simulation. In the literature a wide range of Young modulus for the bone cortical layers can be found and these values are actively used even in different further fi nite element simulation researches. However the proper modeling of the cortical layer thickness and correctly calibrated mechanical parameter settings bare key importance regarding the stability and connection of the implants and the fi xing screws. The values of the Young modulus are depending on many factors, for example gender or even the age, not even mentioning further different infl uencing factors. In this study destructive biomechanical examinations were carried out on bones received from dead people. The samplings of the bone were conducted from the area of the screwing used in the mandible reconstruction. Considering the results it can be concluded that the values in the literature are often not as accurate. Regarding orthotropic values of the mandible, so far has only been a small segment of information was covered. The measured values are lower than the ones in the literature. In case of the highest value it is still 3.5 GPa Young modulus in the axial direction. The results can be used in order to create a more reliable model combined with a more realistic Young modulus for the fi nite element simulation of the bone models. On these models the different scenarios of the resection cases can be estimated more precisely with examinations. DOI:  10.17489/biohun/2014/2/02