Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Influence of geometrical factors on the behavior of lumbar spine segments: A finite element analysis

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
European Spine Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The main objective of this study was the assessment of the influence of geometrical factors on the behavior of lumbar segments. To this end, a three-dimensional, parameterized, finite element model of the lumbar spine was used, and the results were compared with in-house experimental results and with the few published experimental results available concerning either the geometry of the tested samples or the differences observed at different vertebral levels. Furthermore, in order to appreciate the relative importance of the geometry, the influence of the variation of some other parameters was studied, such as the orientation of the facet joints, the gap between the articular processes, and the Young's modulus of the disk fibers. As a first approach, a series of computations was carried out in order to evaluate the role of geometry in the mechanical behavior differences observed at different levels. It has been found that geometrical factors do exert a noticeable influence on the behavior of the spine, especially those which interfere with the dimensions of the intervertebral disk.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ahmed AM, Abdul MA, Duncan NA, Burke DL (1990) The effect of facet geometry on the axial torque response of lumbar motion segments. Spine 15:391–401

    Google Scholar 

  2. Beaudoin L (1983) Caractérisation mécanique des ligaments de la colonne vertébrale. M Sc Thesis, University of Montréal

  3. Chazal J, Gaurel G, Escande G, Guillot M, Tanguy A, VanDeuville G (1985) Biomechanical properties of spinal ligaments and a histological study of the supraspinous ligament in traction. J Biomech 18:167–176

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Evans JH, Nachemson AL (1968) Some mechanical properties of the third lumbar interlaminar ligament. J Biomech 1:211–220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Farfan MF, Cossette JW, Robertson JW, Wells RV, Kraus H (1980) The effects of torsion in the intervertebral joints: the role of torsion in the production of disc degeneration. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 25:468–497

    Google Scholar 

  6. Goel VK, Kim YE, Lim TH, Weinstein JN (1988) An analytical investigation of the mechanics of spinal instrumentation. Spine 13:1003–1011

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Lavaste F (1980) Biomécanique du rachis dorso-lombaire. In: Deuxiémes journées d'orthopédie de la pitié. Masson, Paris, pp 19–23

    Google Scholar 

  8. Lavaste F (1990) Contribution à l'étude du comportement biomécanique du rachis dorsolombaire. DSC thesis, ENSAM, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  9. Lavaste F, Asselineau A, Diop A, Grandjean JL, Laurain JM, Skalli W, Roy-Camille R (1990) Protocole expérimental pour la caractérisation mécanique de segments rachidiens et de matériels d'ostéosynthèse dorso-lombaires. Rachis 2:435–446

    Google Scholar 

  10. Lavaste F, Skalli W, Robin S (1991) Three-dimensional modeling of the lumbar spine: an application to the study of posterior fixation devices. VII International Congress of Biomechanics, Perth, Australia, December 9–13

  11. Lavaste F, Skalli W, Robin S, Roy-Camille R, Mazel C (1992) 3D geometrical and mechanical modelling of the lumbar spine. Biomech 25:1153–1164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Markolf KL (1972) Deformation of the thoracolumbar intervertebral joint in response to external loads. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 56:675–687

    Google Scholar 

  13. Martin F, Jayle T, Guyon F, Lavaste F (1990) Comportement mécanique du rachis lombaire, etude expérimentale. XV Congrés de la Société de Biomécanique, Cluny, September 18–19

  14. Panjabi MM, Brand RA, White AA (1976) Three-dimensional flexibility and stiffness properties of the human thoracic spine. J Biomech 9:195–192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Panjabi MM, Yamamoto I, Oxland T, Crisco J 81989) How does posture affect coupling in the lumbar spine? Spine 14: 1002-1011

  16. Robin S, Skalli W, Lavaste F (1991) Modélisation tridimensionelle du rachis lombaire: application à l'étude d'dune lésion discale et d'une restauration chirurgicale par fixation postérieure. XII Congrès de la Société de Biomécanique, Lille, November 8–9

  17. Scole PV, Linton AE, Latimer B, Levy ME, Digiovanni BF (1988) Vertebral body and posterior element morphology: the normal spine in middle life. Spine 13:1082–1086

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Shirazi-Adl A, Shrivastava SC, Ahmed AM (1984) Stress analysis of the lumbar disc-body unit in compression: a three dimensional non linear finite element study. Spine 9:120–134

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Shirazi-Adl A, Ahmed AM, Shrivastava SC (1986) Mechnical response of a lumbar motion segment in axial torque alone and combined with compression. Spine 11:914–927

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Skalli W, Robin S, Lavaste F, Dubousset J (1992) A biomechanical analysis of short segment spinal fixation using a 3D geometrical and mechanical model. Spine 18:1–10

    Google Scholar 

  21. Tencer AF, Ahmed AM, Burke DL (1982) Some static mechanical properties of the lumbar intervertebral joint, intact and injured. J Biomech Eng 104:200–209

    Google Scholar 

  22. Ueno K, Liu YK (1987) A three-dimensional non-linear finite element model of the lumbar inervertebral joint in torsion. J Biomech Eng 109:200–209

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ENSAM, Laboratoire de Biomécanique, 151 Bd. de l'Hópital, F-75013, Paris, France

    S. Robin, W. Skalli & F. Lavaste

Authors
  1. S. Robin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. W. Skalli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. F. Lavaste
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Robin, S., Skalli, W. & Lavaste, F. Influence of geometrical factors on the behavior of lumbar spine segments: A finite element analysis. Eur Spine J 3, 84–90 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02221445

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02221445

Key words

Search

Navigation