What tends to maintain the integrity of a bone implant interface?

 

# _______ tend to maintain the integrity of a bone implant interface:

a. Compressive force 

b. tensile force 

c. Shear force 

d. All the above 

The correct answer is A. Compressive force.

Forces may be described as compressive, tensile, or shear. Compressive forces attempt to push masses toward each other. Tensile forces pull objects apart. Shear forces on implants cause sliding. Whereas compressive forces tend to maintain the integrity of a bone–implant interface, tensile and shear forces tend to distract or disrupt such an interface. Shear forces are most destructive to implants and bone compared with other load modalities. In general, compressive forces are accommodated best by the complete implant–prosthesis system. Cortical bone is strongest in compression and weakest in shear.