Numerical investigation on the stability of human upper cervical spine (C1–C3)

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Waseem Ur Rahman ◽  
Wei Jiang ◽  
Guohua Wang ◽  
Zhijun Li
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Axial Rotation ◽  
Upper Cervical Spine ◽  
Fe Model ◽  
Facet Joints ◽  
Flexion Extension ◽  
Upper Cervical ◽  
The Stability

BACKGROUND: The finite element method (FEM) is an efficient and powerful tool for studying human spine biomechanics. OBJECTIVE: In this study, a detailed asymmetric three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) model of the upper cervical spine was developed from the computed tomography (CT) scan data to analyze the effect of ligaments and facet joints on the stability of the upper cervical spine. METHODS: A 3D FE model was validated against data obtained from previously published works, which were performed in vitro and FE analysis of vertebrae under three types of loads, i.e. flexion/extension, axial rotation, and lateral bending. RESULTS: The results show that the range of motion of segment C1–C2 is more flexible than that of segment C2–C3. Moreover, the results from the FE model were used to compute stresses on the ligaments and facet joints of the upper cervical spine during physiological moments. CONCLUSION: The anterior longitudinal ligaments (ALL) and interspinous ligaments (ISL) are found to be the most active ligaments, and the maximum stress distribution is appear on the vertebra C3 superior facet surface under both extension and flexion moments.

In vitro 3D-kinematics of the upper cervical spine: helical axis and simulation for axial rotation and flexion extension

2009 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre-Michel Dugailly ◽  
Stéphane Sobczak ◽  
Victor Sholukha ◽  
Serge Van Sint Jan ◽  
Patrick Salvia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Axial Rotation ◽  
Helical Axis ◽  
Upper Cervical Spine ◽  
3D Kinematics ◽  
Flexion Extension ◽  
Upper Cervical

Investigation of Upper Cervical Spine Injury due to Frontal and Rear Impact Loading Using Finite Element Analysis

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanvir Mustafy ◽  
Kodjo Moglo ◽  
Samer Adeeb ◽  
Marwan El-Rich
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Spine Injury ◽  
Upper Cervical Spine ◽  
Fe Model ◽  
Facet Joints ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Effective Prevention ◽  
Upper Cervical

Predicting neck response and injury resulting from motor vehicle crashes is essential for improving occupant protection, effective prevention, and in the evaluation and treatment of spinal injuries. Injury mechanism of upper cervical spine due to frontal/rear-end impacts was studied using Finite Element (FE) analyses. A FE model of ligamentous (devoid of muscles) occipito-C3 cervical spine was developed. Time and rate-dependent material laws were used for assessing bone and ligament failure. Frontal and rear-end impact loads at two rates of 5G and 10G accelerations were applied to analyze the model response in terms of stress distribution, intradiscal pressure change, and contact pressure in facet joints. Failure occurrence and initiation instants were investigated. Frontal and rear-end impacts increased stresses significantly producing failure in most components for both rates. However, transverse ligament and C2-vertebral endplate only failed under rear-end impact. No failure occurred in cortical bone, dens, disc, anterior or posterior longitudinal ligaments. The spine is more prone to injury under rear-end impact as most of the spinal components failed and failure started earlier. Ligaments and facet joints are the most vulnerable components of the upper cervical spine when subjected to frontal/rear end impacts and injury may occur at small ranges of displacement/rotation.

Range of Motion of the Upper Cervical Spine: flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana I. Lorente ◽  
César Hidalgo García ◽  
Jacobo Rodríguez Sanz ◽  
Mario Maza Frechín ◽  
Albert Pérez Bellmunt
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Range Of Motion ◽  
Axial Rotation ◽  
Upper Cervical Spine ◽  
Lateral Bending ◽  
Normal Range ◽  
Range Of Movement ◽  
Flexion Extension ◽  
Upper Cervical ◽  
Life Threatening

Instability is a serious and life-threatening diagnosis in the upper cervical spine (occiput-atlas-axis), and a depth understanding of normal range of movement is required for clinical manual evaluation. To improve this knowledge, ten upper cervical spine specimens have been tested in flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation. 

BIOMECHANICS OF CERVICAL SPINE FOLLOWING IMPLANTATION OF A SEMI-CONSTRAINED ARTIFICIAL DISC WITH UPWARD CENTER OF ROTATION: A FINITE ELEMENT INVESTIGATION

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (04) ◽  
pp. 1550063 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. AKBARIAN ◽  
G. ROUHI ◽  
M. MOSAVI MASHHADI ◽  
W. HERZOG
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Total Disc Replacement ◽  
Intradiscal Pressure ◽  
Fe Model ◽  
Facet Joints ◽  
Artificial Disc ◽  
Test Protocol ◽  
Center Of Rotation ◽  
Flexion Extension

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a semi-constrained artificial disc with upward instantaneous center of rotation (ICR) on the biomechanics of the cervical spine. A three-dimensional nonlinear finite element model of the lower cervical spine (C4–C7) was developed using computed tomography (CT) data. The FE model was validated by comparing it to previously published experimental results for flexion-extension, lateral bending and axial rotation movements. The validated model was then altered to include prosthesis at the C5–C6 level. A hybrid test protocol was used to investigate the effects of total disc replacement. The results of this study showed that this artificial disc can help maintain the same range of motion (ROM) and intradiscal pressure as the intact model for most loading conditions. We also found that loads on the facet joints increased dramatically at index level. The capsular ligaments were also found to transmit more tension during flexion at implanted level. Although the artificial disc with upward ICR was found to restore normal kinematics, and prevented increases in intradiscal pressure, it was also associated with an overloading of the facet joints and capsular ligaments leading to potentially undesirable outcomes in the long term.

Biomechanical in Vitro and Finite Element Study On Different Sagittal Alignment Postures of the Lumbar Spine During Multiaxial Daily Motion

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadja Wilmanns ◽  
Agnes Beckmann ◽  
Luis Fernando Nicolini ◽  
Christian Herren ◽  
Rolf Sobottke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Lumbar Spine ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Axial Rotation ◽  
Intervertebral Discs ◽  
Fe Model ◽  
Bending Moments ◽  
Sagittal Spinal Alignment ◽  
Biomechanical Response

Abstract Lumbar Lordotic correction (LLC), the gold standard treatment for Sagittal Spinal malalignment (SMA), and its effect on sagittal balance have been critically discussed in recent studies. This paper assesses the biomechanical response of the spinal components to LLC as an additional factor for the evaluation of LLC. Human lumbar spines (L2L5) were loaded with combined bending moments in Flexion (Flex)/Extension (Ex) or Lateral Bending (LatBend) and Axial Rotation (AxRot) in a physiological environment. We examined the dependency of AxRot range of motion (RoM) on the applied bending moment. The results were used to validate a Finite Element (FE) model of the lumbar spine. With this model, the biomechanical response of the intervertebral discs (IVD) and facet joints under daily motion was studied for different sagittal spinal alignment (SA) postures, simulated by a motion in Flex/Ex direction. Applied bending moments decreased AxRot RoM significantly (all P<0.001). A stronger decline of AxRot RoM for Ex than for Flex direction was observed (all P<0.0001). Our simulated results largely agreed with the experimental data (all R2>0.79). During daily motion, the IVD was loaded higher with increasing lumbar lordosis (LL) for all evaluated values at L2L3 and L3L4 and posterior Annulus Stress (AS) at L4L5 (all P<0.0476). The results of this study indicate that LLC with large extensions of LL may not always be advantageous regarding the biomechanical loading of the IVD. This finding may be used to improve the planning process of LLC treatments.

Incorporating ligament laxity in a finite element model for the upper cervical spine

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. 1755-1764 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy L. Lasswell ◽  
Duane S. Cronin ◽  
John B. Medley ◽  
Parham Rasoulinejad
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Finite Element Model ◽  
Element Model ◽  
Upper Cervical Spine ◽  
Upper Cervical ◽  
Ligament Laxity

Effect of a Degenerated C5-C6 Disc on the Biomechanics of Adjacent Levels: A Poroelastic Finite Element Investigation

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mozammil Hussain ◽  
Raghu N. Natarajan ◽  
Gunnar B. J. Andersson ◽  
Howard S. An
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Axial Strain ◽  
Fe Model ◽  
Fe Method ◽  
Regional Effect ◽  
In Vitro Techniques

Degenerative changes in the cervical spine due to aging are very common causes of neck pain in general population. Although many investigators have quantified the gross morphological changes in the disc with progressive degeneration, the biomechanical changes due to degenerative pathologies of the disc and its effect on the adjacent levels are not well understood. Despite many in vivo and in vitro techniques used to study such complex phenomena, the finite element (FE) method is still a powerful tool to investigate the internal mechanics and complex clinical situations under various physiological loadings particularly when large numbers of parameters are involved. The objective of the present study was to develop and validate a poroelastic FE model of a healthy C3-T1 segment of the cervical spine under physiologic moment loads. The model included the regional effect of change in the fixed charged density of proteoglycan concentration and change in the permeability and porosity due to change in the axial strain of disc tissues. The model was further modified to include various degrees of disc degeneration at the C5-C6 level. Outcomes of this study provided a better understanding on the progression of degeneration along the cervical spine by investigating the biomechanical response of the adjacent segments with an intermediate degenerated C5-C6 level.

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