Finite Element Model Studies in Lumbar Spine Biomechanics

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a progressive pathological condition observed in 60 to 80% of the population [1]. It involves changes in both the biochemistry and morphology of the intervertebral disc and is associated with chronic low back pain, sciatica and adult scoliosis [2,3]. The most accepted theory of the effects of DDD on the kinematics of the spine is that proposed by Kirkaldy-Willis and Farfan which states that the condition initiates as a temporary dysfunction, followed by instability and then re-stabilization as the disease progresses [4]. Although there is no clear relationship between disc degeneration and the mechanical behavior of the lumbar spine, abnormal motion patterns either in the form of increased motion or erratic motion have been reported from studies on human cadaveric motion segments [5,6]. To date however no study has looked at how disc degeneration affects the adjacent segment mechanics. IN vivo testing is difficult for these purposes given that specimens are generally obtained from people at the later stages of life and consequently often display multiple pathologies. A finite element model is a viable alternative to study the mechanics of the segments adjacent to the diseased disc. It is hypothesized that moderate degeneration at one level will alter the kinematics of the whole lumbar spine.

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Stress Analysis of the Lumbar Spine under Dynamic Loading Condition with 3 - D Nonlinear Finite Element Model

The Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association ◽

10.4055/jkoa.1995.30.4.795 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. 795

Author(s):

Choon Ki Lee ◽

Jun Mo Jung ◽

Young Eun Kim ◽

Hwal Suh

Keyword(s):

Finite Element ◽

Lumbar Spine ◽

Finite Element Model ◽

Stress Analysis ◽

Dynamic Loading ◽

Loading Condition ◽

Element Model ◽

Nonlinear Finite Element ◽

Dynamic Loading Condition ◽

Nonlinear Finite Element Model

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What have we learned from finite element model studies of lumbar intervertebral discs in the past four decades?

Journal of Biomechanics ◽

10.1016/j.jbiomech.2013.07.014 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 46 (14) ◽

pp. 2342-2355 ◽

Cited By ~ 64

Author(s):

Hendrik Schmidt ◽

Fabio Galbusera ◽

Antonius Rohlmann ◽

Aboulfazl Shirazi-Adl

Keyword(s):

Finite Element ◽

Finite Element Model ◽

Element Model ◽

Intervertebral Discs ◽

Model Studies ◽

The Past

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A finite element model for predicting the biomechanical behaviour of the human lumbar spine

Control Engineering Practice ◽

10.1016/s0967-0661(01)00129-0 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 83-90 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Tobias Pitzen ◽

Fred Geisler ◽

Dieter Matthis ◽

Hans Müller-Storz ◽

Dragos Barbier ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Finite Element ◽

Lumbar Spine ◽

Finite Element Model ◽

Element Model ◽

Human Lumbar Spine

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Biomechanics Of Human Lumbar Spine (L3 To L5) With Degenerative Disc Disease Using Finite Element Model

International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Technology - Regular Issue ◽

10.35940/ijeat.f8897.088619 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (6) ◽

pp. 4609-4614

Keyword(s):

Finite Element ◽

Lumbar Spine ◽

Finite Element Model ◽

Disc Degeneration ◽

Human Body ◽

Lumbar Disc ◽

Element Model ◽

Human Spine ◽

Human Lumbar Spine ◽

Normal Human

Human spine is one of the complex structure of the human body. It provides the link between upper and lower extremities of the human body. It is estimated that at least 30% of people in the middle age group from thirty to fifty years have some degree of disc degeneration. Disc degeneration disease can affect the quality of life and in certain individual it can cause severe chronic pain if left untreated. The low back pain associated with lumbar disc degeneration is usually generated from two causes which are abnormal motion instability and inflammation. Abnormal motion instability occurs when the annulus fibrosus are worn down and cannot absorb stress on the human spine effectively resulting in changes in movements along the vertebral segment. To understand lumbar disc problem, a thorough knowledge of the biomechanics of the normal human lumbar spine and a disc degenerated lumbar spine is of great importance. In this study, Computed tomography image of a 33 year old male is used. A three dimensional (3D) human lumbar spine (L3 to L5) is created and validated with literature. The finite element model was modified to degenerated disc and studied the biomechanics of the lumbar spine. Comparison of the biomechanics of normal human lumbar spine is done with the human lumbar spine with disc degeneration for different range of motion and different loads. The result shows that the pressure generated on degenerated disc is greater than normal disc. This work can be implemented and used for designing implants and also for intervertebral disc related analysis

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Development and Validation of a Computationally Efficient Finite Element Model of the Human Lumbar Spine: Application to Disc Degeneration

The International Journal of Spine Surgery ◽

10.14444/7066 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 (4) ◽

pp. 502-510

Author(s):

JUSTIN M. WARREN ◽

ANDRE P. MAZZOLENI ◽

LLOYD A. HEY

Keyword(s):

Finite Element ◽

Lumbar Spine ◽

Finite Element Model ◽

Disc Degeneration ◽

Element Model ◽

Computationally Efficient ◽

Human Lumbar Spine ◽

Development And Validation

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Simulation of the Transverse Fractures of the Sacrum Using a Finite Element Model of Lumbar Spine-Pelvis Segment

ASME 2008 Summer Bioengineering Conference, Parts A and B ◽

10.1115/sbc2008-193290 ◽

2008 ◽

Author(s):

A. Ivanov ◽

A. Kiapour ◽

N. Ebraheim ◽

V. K. Goel

Keyword(s):

Finite Element ◽

Lumbar Spine ◽

Finite Element Model ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Element Model ◽

Severe Trauma ◽

Fe Model ◽

Element Analysis ◽

Modern Computer ◽

Transverse Fractures

The sacrum fractures are very severe trauma which frequently accompanied with lumbar spine fractures. The surgical procedures often require primary stabilization of both lumbar spine and sacrum. To understand the rationale of the instrumentation numerous cadaveric studies were conducted to elucidate the anatomy of fractures and treatment options [1,2,3]. The modern computer technology allowed simulating the fractures and repairing using the Finite Element Analysis, also [4,5]. The last method has a raw of advantages versus cadaveric method such as higher reliability, accuracy, and safety. Finite element investigations of the pelvic fractures allowed comparing the influence of implants on pelvis stability. However, the extensive search of the literature failed to find a finite element model which includes the pelvis and lumbar spine together. Current study is the first step to accomplish this goal. An experimentally validated model of ligamentous lumbar spine was combined with the FE model of pelvis [7], and simulation of the sacrum fractures was conducted.

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