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Recent advances in finite element modeling of the human cervical spine

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Abstract

The human cervical spine is a complex structure that is the most frequently injured site among all spinal injuries. Therefore, understanding of the cervical spine injury and dysfunction, and also biomechanical response to external stimuli is important. Finite element (FE) modeling can help researchers to access the internal stresses and strains in the bones, ligaments and soft tissues more realistically, and it has been widely adopted for spine biomechanics research. Although in recent years numerous techniques have been developed, there are no recent literature reviews on FE models of the cervical spine. Our objective was to present recent advances in FE modeling of the human cervical spine in terms of component modeling, material properties, and validation procedures. Model applications and further development are also discussed. The integration of new technologies will allow us to generate more accurate and comprehensive model of the cervical spine, which can increase efficiency and model applicability. Finally, the FE modeling can help to facilitate diagnosis, treatment, and prevention technologies for cervical spine injuries.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, 17104, Korea

    Yoon Hyuk Kim & Batbayar Khuyagbaatar

  2. Department of Applied Mathematics, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, 17104, Korea

    Kyungsoo Kim

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  1. Yoon Hyuk Kim
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  2. Batbayar Khuyagbaatar
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Recommended by Editor Sehyun Shin

Yoon Hyuk Kim received his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in 1992, 1994, and 2000, respectively. He is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Korea.

Batbayar Khuyagbaatar received his B.S. and M.S. from Mongolian University of Science and Technology in 2008 and 2010, respectively, and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Kyung Hee University in 2016. He is a postdoctoral fellow in Mechanical Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Korea.

Kyungsoo Kim received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Mathematics from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in 1996, 1998, and 2003, respectively. He is an Associate Professor of Applied Mathematics, Kyung Hee University, Korea.

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Kim, Y.H., Khuyagbaatar, B. & Kim, K. Recent advances in finite element modeling of the human cervical spine. J Mech Sci Technol 32, 1–10 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-017-1201-2

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