The Effect of Repeated Freeze-thaw Cycles on the Biomechanical Properties of Canine Cortical Bone

Summary

As orthopaedic investigations have become more intricate, bone specimens have sometimes undergone multiple freeze-thaw cycles prior to biomechanical testing. The purpose of this study was to determine if repeated freezing and thawing affected the mechanical properties of canine cortical bone. Six pairs of third-metacarpal bones were tested in three-point bending and six pairs of femurs were tested in torsion. At the time of collection, one member of each pair was tested destructively. The other member was tested nondestructively at the time of collection and after each of five freeze-thaw cycles, followed by destructive testing after the fifth cycle. For destructive tests, the material properties (modulus, maximum stress, maximum strain and absorbed energy) of a specimen at the time of collection were compared to those of the corresponding contralateral specimen that had undergone five freeze-thaw cycles. For repeated nondestructive tests, the modulus of a specimen at the time of collection was compared to modulus of the same specimen at each of the five thaw intervals. During destructive testing, there was a significant (p = 0.02) decrease (20%) in maximum torsional strain. Other changes in bending and torsional destructive properties were not statistically significant. During repeated nondestructive testing, there were solitary significant (p < 0.05) increases (8% and 9%, respectively) in both bending and torsional modulus. However, these isolated changes were not correlated to the number of freeze-thaw cycles. The pattern of alterations in destructive and non-destructive biomechanical properties was most consistent with varying specimen dehydration at each thaw interval. Despite using accepted methods to maintain specimen hydration, repeated freezing, thawing, handling and testing of cortical bone increased the risk of moisture loss. Unless stringent efforts are made to ensure proper hydration, the mechanical properties of canine cortical bone will be altered by repeated freezing and thawing, affecting the results of studies utilizing this technique.

The effect of five freeze-thaw cycles on paired canine cortical bone specimens was evaluated using destructive and repeated non-destructive three-point bending and torsion tests. A significant decrease in destructive torsional strain and isolated significant increases in nondestructive bending and torsional modulus were most consistent with varying specimen dehydration at each thaw interval.

Keywords

Biomechanical testing - cortical bone - repeated freezing - dog

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