Trabecular shear stresses predict in vivo linear microcrack density but not diffuse damage in human vertebral cancellous bone

In mechanically tested bone tissue, microcracks in the trabeculae are created and appear to occur in regions where compressive shear stresses are largest. Although no quantitative relationship between in vivo damage content and trabecular level stresses is demonstrated, a relationship between trabecular level stresses from in vivo loading and the formation of natural in vivo microdamage would be expected based on such observations. This paper examines the relationship between the two measures of in vivo damage content and trabecular shear stresses, as measured by the estimates of their magnitude and variability in human vertebral cancellous bone.