Specimens of femoral cortical bone from eighteen subjects between two
and forty-eight years old were loaded in bending. Compared with the bone of
adults, that of children had a lower modulus of elasticity, a lower bending
strength, and a lower ash content. However, the children's bone deflected
more and absorbed more energy before breaking. It also tended to absorb
more energy after fracture had started. The typical greenstick fracture
surface of many specimens of children's bone requires more energy for its
production than the relatively smooth surface of adult specimens.