Abstract
The structure-function relationships for the permeability of trabecular bone may have relevance for tissue engineering, total joint replacements, and whole bone mechanics. To investigate such relationships, we used a constant flow rate permeameter to determine the intrinsic permeability of trabecular bone specimens, oriented longitudinally or transversely to the principal trabecular orientation, from the human vertebral body (n=20), human proximal femur (n=12), and bovine proximal tibia (n=24). Overall, the intertrabecular permeability ranged from 2.68 × 1011 to 2.00 × 108 m2. Significant negative nonlinear relations between intertrabecular permeability and volume fraction were found for each group except the longitudinal bovine proximal tibial specimens (r2=0.34-0.80). The average permeability ratio, a measure of the anisotropy, was 2.05, 6.60, and 23.3 for the human vertebral body, bovine tibia, and human femur, respectively. The permeability depended strongly on flow direction relative to the principal trabecular orientation (p < 0.0001) and anatomic site (p < 0.0001). In addition to providing a comprehensive description of intertrabecular permeability as a function of anatomic site and flow direction, these data provide substantial insight into the underlying structure-function relationships. © 1999 Biomedical Engineering Society.
PAC99: 8719-j
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Ashman, R. B. Experimental techniques. In: Bone Mechanics. edited by S. C. Cowin. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1989, pp. 75–95.
Bear, J. Dynamics of Fluids in Porous Media. New York: Dover, 1972.
Beaudoin, A. J., W. M. Mihalko, and W. R. Krause. Finite element modelling of polymethylmethacrylate flow through cancellous bone. J. Biomech. 24:127–136, 1991.
Bryant, J. D., T. David, P. H. Gaskell, S. King, and G. Lond. Rheology of bovine bone marrow. Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng. 203:71–75, 1989.
Darcy, H. Les Fontaines Publiques de la Ville de Dijon. 1856.
Ford, C. M., and T. M. Keaveny. The dependence of shear failure properties of bovine tibial trabecular bone on apparent density and trabecular orientation. J. Biomech, 29:1309–1317, 1996
Galante, J., W. Rostoker, and R. D. Ray. Physical properties of trabecular bone. Calcif. Tissue Res. 5:236–246, 1970.
Goulet, R. W., S. A. Goldstein, M. J. Ciarelli, J. L. Kuhn, M. B. Brown, and L. A. Feldkamp. The relationship between the structural and orthogonal compressive properties of trabecular bone. J. Biomech. 27:375–389, 1994.
Greenkorn, R. A., C. R. Johnson, and L. K. Shallenberger. Directional permeability of heterogeneous anisotropic porous media. Soc. Pet. Engineers J. 231:124, 1964.
Grimm, M. J., and J. L. Williams. Measurements of permeability in human calcaneal trabecular bone. J. Biomech. 30:743–745, 1997.
Hui, P. W., P. C. Leung, and A. Sher. Fluid conductance of cancellous bone graft as a predictor for graft-host interface healing. J. Biomech. 29:123–132, 1996.
Iberall, A. S. Permeability of glass wool and other highly porous media. J. Res. Natl. Bur. Stand. 45:398–406, 1950.
Johnson, M. W. Behavior of fluid in stressed bone and cellular stimulation. Calcif. Tissue Int. 36:S72-S76, 1984.
Keaveny, T. M., X. E. Guo, E. F. Wachtel, T. A. McMahon, and W. C. Hayes. Trabecular bone exhibits fully linear elastic behavior and yields at low strains. J. Biomech. 27:1127–1136, 1994.
Keaveny, T. M., E. F. Wachtel, S. P. Zadesky, and Y. P. Arramon. Application of the Tsai-Wu quadratic multiaxial failure criterion to bovine trabecular bone. J. Biomech. Eng. 121:99–107, 1999.
Li, G., J. T. Bronk, K. N. An, and P. J. Kelly. Permeability of cortical bone of canine tibiae. Microvasc. Res. 34:302–310, 1987.
Lim, T. H., and J. H. Hong. Poroelastic properties of vertebral trabecular bone. Adv. Bioeng. 33:127–128, 1996.
Mosekilde, L., L. Mosekilde, and C. C. Danielsen. Biomechanical competence of vertebral trabecular bone in relation to ash density and age in normal individuals. Bone (N.Y.) 8:79–85, 1987.
Mow, V. C., S. C. Kuei, W. M. Lai, and C. G. Armstrong. Biphasic creep and stress relaxation of articular cartilage in compression: Theory and experiments. J. Biomech. Eng. 102:73–84, 1980.
Ochoa, J. A., D. A. Heck, K. D. Brandt, and B. M. Hillberry. The effect of intertrabecular fluid on femoral head mechanics. J. Rheumatol. 18:580–584, 1991.
Ochoa, J. A., and B. M. Hillberry. Permeability of bovine cancellous bone. Transactions of the Orthopedic Research Society 38:162, 1992.
Ochoa, J. A., A. P. Sanders, D. A. Heck, and B. M. Hillberry. Stiffening of the femoral head due to intertrabecular fluid and intraosseous pressure. J. Biomech. Eng. 113:259–262, 1991.
Ochoa, J. A., A. P. Sanders, T. W. Kiesler, D. A. Heck, J. P. Toombs, K. D. Brandt, and B. M. Hillberry. In vivo observations of hydraulic stiffening in the canine femoral head. J. Biomech. Eng. 119:103–108, 1997.
Sadler, L. Y., M. B. Rahnama, and G. P. Whittle. Laboratory measurement of the permeability of Selma chalk using an improved experimental technique. Hazard. Waste Hazard. Mater. 9:331–343, 1992.
Scheidegger, A. E. The Physics of Flow through Porous Media. New York: MacMillan, 1957.
Sharp, D. J., K. E. Tanner, and W. Bonfield. Measurement of the density of trabecular bone. J. Biomech. 23:853–857, 1990.
Whitaker, S. Advances in theory of fluid motion in porous media. Ind. Eng. Chem. 61:14–28, 1969.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nauman, E.A., Fong, K.E. & Keaveny, T.M. Dependence of Intertrabecular Permeability on Flow Direction and Anatomic Site. Annals of Biomedical Engineering 27, 517–524 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1114/1.195
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1114/1.195