Assessment of osseointegration by nonlinear dynamic response

Quantitative assessment of osseointegration remains a goal of researchers a nd clinicians alike. In this study, an instrument was designed for this pur pose and tested in an animal model. Effective mechanical impedance, lineari zed for quasi-static force, was measured in 22 implants placed in the hind tibiae of 2 large hounds. The results demonstrate that in this animal long- bone model, the effective impedance of titanium root-form implants exhibits a degree of nonlinear behavior correlated with their state of osseointegra tion. This observation may be the basis for useful clinical instrumentation .