Microstructures and properties of cancellous bone of avascular necrosis of femoral heads

The aim of this study is to investigate microscopic structure and characterize cancellous bone of avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH). The rabbit model of the ANFH is established. The histopathologic features are studied successfully. The differences between the steroid-injection group (S.G.) and the controlled group (C.G.) are examined, including the weight of rabbits, the hematological examination and the three-dimensional structures. It is found that the plasma levels of cholesterol (CHO), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in S.G. are lower than those in C.G. when the triglyceride (TG) increased in the S.G.; but the bone mineral content (BMC) and the structural model index (SMI) of the organ and tissue decreased significantly in S.G. Three-dimensional structures of the femoral head are obtained using micro-computed tomography (CT) scanning and the mechanical model is established to analyze the influences of these structural changes on the mechanical properties of the cancellous bone.