Selected mechanical properties of human cancellous bone subjected to different treatments: short-term immersion in physiological saline and acetone treatment with subsequent immersion in physiological saline

BACKGROUND: Physiological saline (0.9% NaCl) and acetone are extensively used for storage (as well as hydration) and removal of bone marrow, respectively, of cancellous bone during preparation and mechanical testing. Our study aimed to investigate the mechanical properties of cancellous bone subjected to short-term immersion in saline and acetone treatment with subsequent immersion in saline. METHODS: Cylindrical samples (Ø6 × 12 mm) were harvested from three positions (left, middle, and right) of 1 thoracic vertebral body, 19 lumbar vertebral bodies, and 5 sacral bones, as well as from 9 femoral heads. All samples were divided into two groups according to the different treatments, (i) samples from the left and middle sides were immersed in saline at 4℃ for 43 h (saline-immersed group, n = 48); (ii) samples from the respective right side were treated with a combination of acetone and ultrasonic bath (4 h), air-dried at room temperature (21℃, 15 h), and then immersed in saline at room temperature (21℃, 24 h) (acetone and saline-treated group, n = 38). All samples were subjected, both before and after treatment, to a non-destructive compression test with a strain of 0.45%, and finally destructive tests with a strain of 50%. Actual density (ρ(act)), initial modulus (E(0)), maximum stress (σ(max)), energy absorption (W), and plateau stress (σ(p)) were calculated as evaluation indicators. RESULTS: Based on visual observation, a combination of acetone and ultrasonic bath for 4 h failed to completely remove bone marrow from cancellous bone samples. The mean values of ρ(act), σ(max), W, and σ(p) were significantly higher in the femoral head than in the spine. There was no significant difference in E(0) between non-treated and saline-immersed samples (non-treated 63.98 ± 20.23 vs. saline-immersed 66.29 ± 20.61, p = 0.132). The average E(0) of acetone and saline-treated samples was significantly higher than that of non-treated ones (non-treated 62.17 ± 21.08 vs. acetone and saline-treated 74.97 ± 23.98, p = 0.043). CONCLUSION: Short-term storage in physiological saline is an appropriate choice and has no effect on the E(0) of cancellous bone. Treatment of cancellous bone with acetone resulted in changes in mechanical properties that could not be reversed by subsequent immersion in physiological saline. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13018-022-03265-4.