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Effect of lordosis angle change after lumbar/lumbosacral fusion on sacrum angular displacement: a finite element study

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Abstract

Purpose

To assess and characterize the sacrum angular displacements in response to lumbar lordosis after lumbar/lumbosacral fusion.

Methods

A finite element model of the lower lumbar spine-pelvis was established and used to simulate the posterior fusion at L3–L5 and L4–S1. The lordosis angle in the fusion segments was set to five different conditions with respect to the intact model: 10° less than intact, 5° less than intact, same as intact, 5° more than intact, and 10° more than intact. Variations of the sacrum angular displacements with lordosis changes were analyzed under loading setting of axial compression, flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation.

Results

Compared with the intact lordosis, both increased and decreased lumbar lordosis angles caused the sacrum angular displacements to be increased. The lordosis angle increased by 10° induced the most substantial increase in sacrum angular displacements. In addition, the sacrum angular displacements of the L4–S1 fusion model at different lordosis angles were higher than those of the L3–L5 fusion model.

Conclusion

The sacrum angular displacements occur as a result of the fusion surgery (L4–S1) and the changes in lumbar lordosis.

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Acknowledgments

This work is a key project of medicine supported by Shanghai science and technology committee “The research of biomechanics simulation and new medical equipment for lumbar degenerative diseases” (12411950900) and the guidance fund for medicine of Shanghai science and technology committee “The research of etiology and therapeutic strategy for sacroiliac joint pain after lumbar spinal fusion” (114119a2900).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there are no any conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Orthopedic Department of Changhai Hospital, 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai, 200433, People’s Republic of China

    Ningfang Mao, Dawei He, Yang Xie, Yushu Bai, Xianzhao Wei, Zhicai Shi & Ming Li

  2. Orthopedic Department of Kunming General Hospital, Kunming, 650032, People’s Republic of China

    Jian Shi

Authors
  1. Ningfang Mao
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  2. Jian Shi
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  3. Dawei He
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  4. Yang Xie
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  5. Yushu Bai
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  6. Xianzhao Wei
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  7. Zhicai Shi
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  8. Ming Li
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Zhicai Shi or Ming Li.

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N. Mao and J. Shi should be regarded as co-first authors.

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Mao, N., Shi, J., He, D. et al. Effect of lordosis angle change after lumbar/lumbosacral fusion on sacrum angular displacement: a finite element study. Eur Spine J 23, 2369–2374 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-014-3569-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-014-3569-3

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