Age-related site-specific modifications in diaphyseal structural properties of the human fibula: Furrows and cross-sectional geometry.

The decrease in robusticity (Zp-std) with aging is due to the maintenance of total area, which is related to the specific mechanical environment of the fibula, and to the loss of cortical bone and not to the decrease in mechanical stress. This finding is consistent with the lower bone modeling capacity in aged individuals, which also explains the lack of significant changes in the diaphyseal shape. Thus, fibular structure in older individuals is due to a combination of early bone adaptations to stress and aging effects.