Doulgeris James, Lin Maohua, Lee William, Aghayev Kamran, Papanastassiou Ioannis Dimitri, Tsai Chi-Tay, Vrionis Frank D
Department of Medical Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA.
Department of Ocean & Mechanical Engineering, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA.
Bioengineering (Basel). 2023 Dec 26;11(1):24. doi: 10.3390/bioengineering11010024.
Over the past few decades, there has been a growing popularity in utilizing finite element analysis to study the spine. However, most current studies tend to use one specimen for their models. This research aimed to validate multiple finite element models by comparing them with data from in vivo experiments and other existing finite element studies. Additionally, this study sought to analyze the data based on the gender and age of the specimens. For this study, eight lumbar spine (L2-L5) finite element models were developed. These models were then subjected to finite element analysis to simulate the six fundamental motions. CT scans were obtained from a total of eight individuals, four males and four females, ranging in age from forty-four (44) to seventy-three (73) years old. The CT scans were preprocessed and used to construct finite element models that accurately emulated the motions of flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation. Preloads and moments were applied to the models to replicate physiological loading conditions. This study focused on analyzing various parameters such as vertebral rotation, facet forces, and intradiscal pressure in all loading directions. The obtained data were then compared with the results of other finite element analyses and in vivo experimental measurements found in the existing literature to ensure their validity. This study successfully validated the intervertebral rotation, intradiscal pressure, and facet force results by comparing them with previous research findings. Notably, this study concluded that gender did not have a significant impact on the results. However, the results did highlight the importance of age as a critical variable when modeling the lumbar spine.
在过去几十年中，利用有限元分析来研究脊柱越来越普遍。然而，目前大多数研究倾向于在其模型中使用一个标本。本研究旨在通过将多个有限元模型与体内实验数据及其他现有有限元研究的数据进行比较来验证这些模型。此外，本研究试图根据标本的性别和年龄对数据进行分析。在本研究中，开发了八个腰椎（L2-L5）有限元模型。然后对这些模型进行有限元分析以模拟六种基本运动。从总共八个人身上获取了CT扫描数据，其中四名男性和四名女性，年龄在44岁至73岁之间。对CT扫描数据进行预处理，并用于构建能够准确模拟前屈、后伸、侧屈和轴向旋转运动的有限元模型。对模型施加预载荷和力矩以复制生理载荷。本研究着重分析所有载荷方向上的各种参数，如椎体旋转、小关节力和椎间盘内压力。然后将获得的数据与现有文献中其他有限元分析结果和体内实验测量结果进行比较，以确保其有效性。通过与先前的研究结果进行比较，本研究成功验证了椎间旋转、椎间盘内压力和小关节力的结果。值得注意的是，本研究得出结论，性别对结果没有显著影响。然而，结果确实突出了年龄作为腰椎建模时一个关键变量的重要性。
