A Novel Anterior Transpedicular Screw Artificial Vertebral Body System for Lower Cervical Spine Fixation: A Finite Element Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 139 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Weidong Wu ◽  
Chun Chen ◽  
Jinpei Ning ◽  
Peidong Sun ◽  
Jinyuan Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Vertebral Body ◽  
Facet Joint ◽  
Lower Cervical Spine ◽  
Body System ◽  
Joint Force ◽  
Transpedicular Screw ◽  
Spine Model ◽  
Artificial Vertebral Body

A finite element model was used to compare the biomechanical properties of a novel anterior transpedicular screw artificial vertebral body system (AVBS) with a conventional anterior screw plate system (ASPS) for fixation in the lower cervical spine. A model of the intact cervical spine (C3–C7) was established. AVBS or ASPS constructs were implanted between C4 and C6. The models were loaded in three-dimensional (3D) motion. The Von Mises stress distribution in the internal fixators was evaluated, as well as the range of motion (ROM) and facet joint force. The models were generated and analyzed by mimics, geomagic studio, and ansys software. The intact model of the lower cervical spine consisted of 286,382 elements. The model was validated against previously reported cadaveric experimental data. In the ASPS model, stress was concentrated at the connection between the screw and plate and the connection between the titanium mesh and adjacent vertebral body. In the AVBS model, stress was evenly distributed. Compared to the intact cervical spine model, the ROM of the whole specimen after fixation with both constructs is decreased by approximately 3 deg. ROM of adjacent segments is increased by approximately 5 deg. Facet joint force of the ASPS and AVBS models was higher than those of the intact cervical spine model, especially in extension and lateral bending. AVBS fixation represents a novel reconstruction approach for the lower cervical spine. AVBS provides better stability and lower risk for internal fixator failure compared with traditional ASPS fixation.

FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF CERVICAL SPINE WITH DIFFERENT CONSTRAINED TYPES OF TOTAL DISC REPLACEMENT

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (03) ◽  
pp. 1450038 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHIEN-YU LIN ◽  
SHIH-YOUENG CHUANG ◽  
CHANG-JUNG CHIANG ◽  
YANG-HWEI TSUANG ◽  
WENG-PIN CHEN
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Vertebral Body ◽  
Facet Joint ◽  
Total Disc Replacement ◽  
Axial Rotation ◽  
Disc Replacement ◽  
Normal Person ◽  
Fe Model ◽  
Segmental Motion

Various designs of cervical total disc replacement (CTDR) have been introduced and employed in an attempt to avoid disadvantages of the fusion surgery. The purposes of this study were to evaluate the effects of the range of motion (ROM), the instantaneous center of rotation (ICR) and the facet joint force (FJF) with different constrained types of CTDR devices. A three-dimensional finite element (FE) model of intact cervical spine (C3-7) was made from CT scans of a normal person and validated. Postoperative FE models simulating CTDR implantation at the C5-6 disc space were made for CTDR-I (constrained design) and CTDR-II (nonconstrained design), respectively. Hybrid protocol (intact: 1 Nm) with a compressive follower load of 73.6 N was applied at the superior endplate of the C3 vertebral body. The inferior endplate of C7 vertebral body was constrained in all directions. At the index level, CTDR-I showed a higher increase in segmental motion and FJF than CTDR-II in extension, lateral bending and axial rotation. The CTDR-II with an elastomer-type core reproduced a near physiological ICR of the intact model in extension and axial rotation. Abnormal kinetic and kinematic changes related to the CTDR may induce surgical level problems and cause long-term failure of spinal surgery.

Finite Element Model of the Human Lower Cervical Spine: Parametric Analysis of the C4-C6 Unit

1997 ◽  
Vol 119 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Yoganandan ◽  
S. Kumaresan ◽  
L. Voo ◽  
F. A. Pintar
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Finite Element Model ◽  
Compressive Stress ◽  
Vertebral Body ◽  
Element Model ◽  
Intervertebral Disk ◽  
Von Mises Stress ◽  
Lower Cervical Spine ◽  
Intervertebral Disks

In this study, a three-dimensional finite element model of the human lower cervical spine (C4-C6) was constructed. The mathematical model was based on close-up CT scans from a young human cadaver. Cortical shell, cancellous core, endplates, and posterior elements including the lateral masses, pedicle, lamina, and transverse and spinous processes, and the intervertebral disks, were simulated. Using the material properties from literature, the 10,371-element model was exercised under an axial compressive mode of loading. The finite element model response agreed with literature. As a logical step, a parametric study was conducted by evaluating the biomechanical response secondary to changes in the elastic moduli of the intervertebral disk and the endplates. In the stress analysis, the minimum principal compressive stress was used for the cancellous core of the vertebral body and von Mises stress was used for the endplate component. The model output indicated that an increase in the elastic modulii of the disk resulted in an increase in the endplate stresses at all the three spinal levels. In addition, the inferior endplate of the middle vertebral body responded with the highest mean compressive stress followed by its superior counterpart. Furthermore, the middle vertebral body produced the highest compressive stresses compared to its counterparts. These findings appear to correlate with experimental results as well as common clinical experience wherein cervical fractures are induced due to external compressive forces. As a first step, this model will lead to more advanced simulations as additional data become available.

scholarly journals Finite element study on effect of follower load on intersegmental rotation, facet joint force and nucleus pressure of the cervical spine

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin-Yi Cai ◽  
Chen-Xi Yuchi ◽  
Cheng-Fei Du ◽  
Zhong-Jun Mo
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Facet Joint ◽  
Compressive Load ◽  
Axial Rotation ◽  
Fe Model ◽  
Follower Load ◽  
Joint Force ◽  
Human Spine ◽  
Joint Forces

Abstract Background: The follower load is used to simulate the physiological compressive load of human spine. These compressive loads can maintain cervical spine’s mechanics stability and play a significant role in improving load-carrying capacity of the cervical spine. However, under different follower loads the biomechanical response of the cervical spine is unknown. So the aim of this study is to investigate the effect of follower load on biomechanics of the cervical spine. Results: In this study, a three-dimensional nonlinear finite element (FE) model of the cervical spine (C3-C7) was built and validated. Using this FE model of the cervical spine, we evaluated the effect of different follower loads on intersegmental rotation, facet joint force, and nucleus pressure in the cervical spine. The results indicated that with the follower load increased, the intersegmental rotation of the cervical spine in extension decreased, but the intersegmental rotation in other postures increased. The follower load increased the facet joint forces in all postures. In lateral bending (LB), the facet joint forces were only generated in the ipsilateral facet joints. In axial rotation (AR), there was a large asymmetry in the facet joint forces, and this asymmetry worsened with the follower load increased. The nucleus pressure of each segment nonlinearly increased with the follower load increased in all postures. Conclusion: An comprehensive analysis in intersegmental rotation, facet joint force and nucleus pressure under different follower loads can provide us a deeper understanding of the follower load in the human spine.

Cartilage Thickness Distribution Affects Computational Model Predictions of Cervical Spine Facet Contact Parameters

2010 ◽  
Vol 133 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wesley Womack ◽  
Ugur M. Ayturk ◽  
Christian M. Puttlitz
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Articular Cartilage ◽  
Cartilage Thickness ◽  
Implant Design ◽  
Lower Cervical Spine ◽  
Model Predictions ◽  
Geometric Representations ◽  
Spatially Varying ◽  
The Impact

With motion-sparing disk replacement implants gaining popularity as an alternative to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) for the treatment of certain spinal degenerative disorders, recent laboratory investigations have studied the effects of disk replacement and implant design on spinal kinematics and kinetics. Particularly relevant to cervical disk replacement implant design are any postoperative changes in solid stresses or contact conditions in the articular cartilage of the posterior facets, which are hypothesized to lead to adjacent-level degeneration. Such changes are commonly investigated using finite element methods, but significant simplification of the articular geometry is generally employed. The impact of such geometric representations has not been thoroughly investigated. In order to assess the effects of different models of cartilage geometry on load transfer and contact pressures in the lower cervical spine, a finite element model was generated using cadaver-based computed tomography imagery. Mesh resolution was varied in order to establish model convergence, and cadaveric testing was undertaken to validate model predictions. The validated model was altered to include four different geometric representations of the articular cartilage. Model predictions indicate that the two most common representations of articular cartilage geometry result in significant reductions in the predictive accuracy of the models. The two anatomically based geometric models exhibited less computational artifact, and relatively minor differences between them indicate that contact condition predictions of spatially varying thickness models are robust to anatomic variations in cartilage thickness and articular curvature. The results of this work indicate that finite element modeling efforts in the lower cervical spine should include anatomically based and spatially varying articular cartilage thickness models. Failure to do so may result in loss of fidelity of model predictions relevant to investigations of physiological import.

scholarly journals Finite Element Analysis and Comparative Study of 4 Kinds of Internal Fixation Systems for Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion in Children

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
ziyu li ◽  
Jianqiang Zhou ◽  
Zhijun Li ◽  
Shaojie Zhang ◽  
xing wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element Analysis ◽  
Finite Element ◽  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Finite Element Model ◽  
Internal Fixation ◽  
Element Model ◽  
Lower Cervical Spine ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Internal Fixation System ◽  
Fixation System

Abstract Background: Spinal injury in children usually occurs in the cervical spine region. Anterior fixation of lower cervical spine has been applied in the treatment of pediatric cervical spine injury and disease due to its stable and firm mechanical properties. This study performed finite element analysis and comparison of 4 different anterior cervical internal fixation systems for children, and explored more stable methods of anterior cervical internal fixation in children. Methods: A finite element model of 6-year-old children with lower cervical spine C4/5 discectomy was established, and the self-designed lower cervical spine anterior locking internal fixation system ACBLP and the children’s anterior cervical internal fixation system ACOP, ACVLP, ACSLP plate screws were fixed and loaded on the model. 27.42N•m torque load was applied to each internal fixation model under 6 working conditions of anteflexion, backward flexion, left flexion, right flexion, left rotation and right rotation, to simulate the movement of the cervical spine. The activity and stress distribution cloud diagram of each finite element model was obtained. Results: In the four internal fixation models of ACOP, ACVLP, ACSLP, and ACBLP, the mobility of C4/5 segment basically showed a decreasing relationship, and the mobility of adjacent segments increased significantly. In the Mises stress cloud diagram of the cervical spine of the four models, the vertebral body and accessories of the ACBLP model born the least stress, followed by ACSLP; The steel plate and screws in the ACVLP internal fixation model were the most stressed; The stress of the internal fixation system (plate/screw) in all models increased in the order of ACBLP, ACSLP, ACVLP, and ACOP.Conclusions: ACBLP internal fixation system had obvious advantages in anterior internal fixation of lower cervical spine in children, C4/5 had the smallest degree of movement, relative displacement was minimal, the stress on the pedicle was the least while the stress on the plate screw was relatively the smallest.

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