Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of different methods of trabecular bone storage on changes in its elastic properties.
Methods: 186 porcine trabecular bone samples were divided into 6 groups, approximately 30 samples each. Five groups were stored using the following methods: in buffered 10% formalin solution at room temperature, frozen at -21 C, in the open air at room temperature, in 96% alcohol solution and in 50% alcohol solution at room temperature. The samples were subjected to compression test to measure the elastic modulus. The samples after the first measurement were subjected to further measurements for 14 weeks, every 2 weeks. The sixth group was used to determine the effects of 10 freeze-thaw cycles on changes in the elastic modulus. A Kolmogorov-Smirnov test at significance level p = 0.05 was used to determine the significance of changes in time.
Results: The changes in elastic properties caused by the different storage methods were statistically insignificant, except for the group of samples stored in the open air. The changes in elastic modulus after 10 freeze-thaw cycles were also statistically insignificant.
Conclusions: Except for the storage method in the open air, other storage methods did not significantly affect changes in elastic properties of the trabecular bones after 14 weeks. No effects of 10 freeze-thaw cycles on changes in elastic modulus were observed.