Approach to Standardized Material Characterization of the Human Lumbopelvic System: Testing and Evaluation

Abstract

The osseo-ligamentous lumbopelvic complex is essential for musculoskeletal load transfer, yet location-specific material data and standardized test protocols remain scarce, which is a hindrance for comparability. Based on 91 specimen locations per cadaver (five cadavers, average age: 77.3 years), we developed detailed methods for specimen preparation and mechanical testing (bending, tensile, and compression) with defined boundary conditions. Multiple measurements were taken to assess repeatability. The proposed methods allow us to identify location-specific properties of the lumbopelvic system for the first time. Cortical bone exhibited an elastic modulus of 1750 MPa and an ultimate strength of 28.2 MPa, while those of trabecular bone were 32.7 MPa and 1.26 MPa, and soft tissues revealed values of 148 MPa and 14.3 MPa for fascial tissue and 103 MPa with 10.7 MPa for ligamentous tissue, respectively. The quantified properties for cortical and trabecular bone and soft tissues not only enhance the comparability of material properties but also support more accurate numerical simulations and implant design. Furthermore, the ease of implementation and standardization of these methods enable their widespread application, as well as the accumulation of a broad database and the setting of benchmarks for future investigations.