Ethanol and formaldehyde fixation irreversibly alter bones' organic matrix.

Introduction: Biomechanical tests on bones are frequently accomplished in anatomically fixed tissues. The effects of ethanol or formaldehyde based fixation in bone material properties are subject to controversial discussions, regarding their appropriateness and usability to answer clinical questioning or biomechanical issues. We hypothesized that ethanol and formaldehyde irreversibly change bone material properties, and that this effect is mainly related to the bone's organic matrix.