A Possible Mechanism of Wolff's Law: Trabecular Microfractures

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Abstract
The response of bone to stress by appropriate remodelling is known as Wolff's Law and has been verified both clinically and anatomically. Significant trabecular microfracture in various stages of healing was observed in cancellous bone from both human tibias and tibias of rabbits whose bone was caused to remodel by experimental loading. This healing increases the trabecular mass by the addition of large quantities of callus which stiffen the bone. This mechanism may be responsible for the remodelling of trabecular bone in response to stress. This work was partially supported by the Office of Naval Research, the John A. Hartford Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and the Kind Trust. Howard G. Parker, and Robert S. Steinberg, provided substantial technical assistance.