Abstract

DUARTE C, Vannessa  and  CERROLAZA, Miguel. Piezoelectric bone modeling by using the boundary element method. Rev. Fac. Ing. UCV [online]. 2013, vol.28, n.4, pp.131-141. ISSN 0798-4065.

In the present work we show the electric properties of bone and how those affect process of bone modeling, explain how the process of mechano-regulation and electric stimulation improve growing, healing and repairing of bone tissues. In this study, we employ the Boundary Element Method (BEM) for piezoelectric materials considering the bone density into the BEM equations. We simulated two examples, a diaphysis with a bone fracture and an osteon in progression. We analyzed what is the origin of the electric potential due the effect of the mechanical load and why the reabsorption process occurs in zones with positive charge while the negative charge is associated to bone formation. We concluded that the absence of mechanical load have impact in the absence of electric potential and, at the same time, the bone modeling process does not occur, leading to a loss in the bone density and its capacity of recuperation.

Keywords : Piezoelectricity; Bone modeling; Boundary element method; Electric potential; Mechanical loads.

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