Our knowledge of the trabecular framework is restricted to a two dimensional study of trabecular framework of the proximal femur. The author has been studying the trabecular pattern of all bones of the lower limb, including the pelvis, for the past 25 years.

The material for the study included cadaveric bones: 10 innominate bones, three hundred femora, 50 tibia, 30 talus, 30 calcanei. 5mm, sections in coronal, sagittal, transverse, (and in proximal femur - oblique) plane were obtained of the cadaveric bones. These were studied by naked eye observation, with a magnifying glass, after obtaining high resolution photographs, and radiographs of sections.

The most constant feature has been the arcuate arrangement of trabeculae as a reflection of joint mobility. In the proximal femur this was observed in three planes while around the knee, and ankle + foot it was observed only in the sagittal plane. The trabeculae are aligned in a fashion similar to the Meyer - Cullmann model of a loaded beam fixed at one end. This reflects response to movements in three planes in the hip, and in sagittal plane around knee and ankle. It was also observed that trabeculae are continuous across joints indicating lines of stress at individual joints.

The author concludes that it is essential to study trabeculae in three dimensional perspective in order to design implants for various regions. This study will also help in designing of components for joint replacement.