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Biomechanics of thoracolumbar junction vertebral fractures from various kinematic conditions

Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing volume 52, pages 87–94 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

Thoracolumbar spine fracture classifications are mainly based on a post-traumatic observation of fracture patterns, which is not sufficient to provide a full understanding of spinal fracture mechanisms. This study aimed to biomechanically analyze known fracture patterns and to study how they relate to fracture mechanisms. The instigation of each fracture type was computationally simulated to assess the fracture process. A refined finite element model of three vertebrae and intervertebral connective tissues was subjected to 51 different dynamic loading conditions divided into four categories: compression, shear, distraction and torsion. Fracture initiation and propagation were analyzed, and time and energy at fracture initiation were computed. To each fracture pattern described in the clinical literature were associated one or several of the simulated fracture patterns and corresponding loading conditions. When compared to each other, torsion resulted in low-energy fractures, compression and shear resulted in medium energy fractures, and distraction resulted in high-energy fractures. Increased velocity resulted in higher-energy fracture for similar loadings. The use of a finite element model provided quantitative characterization of fracture patterns occurrence complementary to clinical and experimental studies, allowing to fully understand spinal fracture biomechanics.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by the “Fondation Canadienne pour l’innovation” (FCI), the “Conseil de Recherche en Sciences Naturelles en Génie” (CRSNG) and the “Institut français des sciences et technologies des transports, de l’aménagement et des réseaux” (IFSTTAR).

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, École de technologie supérieure, 1100 Notre-Dame St. West, Montreal, QC, H3C 1K3, Canada

    Léo Fradet, Yvan Petit & Eric Wagnac

  2. Imaging and Orthopaedic Research Laboratory (LIO), Research Center, Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal, K Wing, 4th Floor, Room K-4070, 5400 Gouin Blvd. West, Montreal, QC, H4J 1C5, Canada

    Léo Fradet, Yvan Petit & Eric Wagnac

  3. Laboratoire de Biomécanique Appliquée, IFSTTAR-Faculté de Médecine secteur Nord, Aix Marseille Université, Boulevard Pierre Dramard, 13916, Marseille Cedex 20, France

    Léo Fradet & Pierre-Jean Arnoux

  4. Department of Mechanical Engineering, École Polytechnique, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Carl-Eric Aubin

  5. Research Center, Sainte-Justine University Hospital Center, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Yvan Petit & Carl-Eric Aubin

Authors
  1. Léo Fradet
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  2. Yvan Petit
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  3. Eric Wagnac
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  4. Carl-Eric Aubin
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  5. Pierre-Jean Arnoux
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Correspondence to Yvan Petit.

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Fradet, L., Petit, Y., Wagnac, E. et al. Biomechanics of thoracolumbar junction vertebral fractures from various kinematic conditions. Med Biol Eng Comput 52, 87–94 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-013-1124-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-013-1124-8

Keywords

  • Thoracolumbar spine
  • Vertebral fracture
  • Traumatic loading
  • Finite element model
  • AO classification
  • Injury mechanisms
  • Fracture pattern