BIOMECHANICAL AND PHYSICAL-PROPERTIES OF LENGTHENED BONE IN A CANINE MODEL

Reports on the mechanical and physical properties of lengthened bone a fter completion of the lengthening process remain scarce. Varied resul ts of torsional testing of lengthened bone have been reported. Further more, torsional testing provides information on the shear properties o f the tissue but does not reflect the elastic properties obtained from tensile, compressive, or bending tests. The present study evaluated t he mechanical properties of lengthened bone at various time points, us ing a uniaxial tension test. Physical properties (density and ash weig ht) were determined as well, Results indicate that the tensile propert ies of the lengthened bone increase with time after the completion of lengthening, but they remain significantly weaker than controls (50%) even after 12 weeks. Density and ash weight measurements also increase d with time, correlating with the increase in the tensile mechanical p roperties.