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Effect of intervertebral disc degeneration on biomechanical behaviors of a lumbar motion segment under physiological loading conditions

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Abstract

The consideration of biomechanical alterations due to intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is crucial for the accurate analysis of spine biomechanics. In this study, finite element (FE) models of the L4-L5 motion segment with full coverage of the degeneration grades from healthy IVD to severe degeneration were developed. The effects of IVD degeneration on spine biomechanics were analyzed under physiological loading conditions using compressive forces and bending moments. The FE models of all degeneration grades were consistent with published data in terms of the ranges of motion. Severe IVD degeneration showed lower inter-segmental rotations in flexion-extension and lateral bending, lower intradiscal pressure in all motions, higher facet joint forces in lateral bending and axial rotation, and higher von-Mises stress in annulus ground substance in all motions versus the healthy IVD. These findings could provide fundamental information for understanding the characteristics of the biomechanical behaviors of degenerated lumbar motion segments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, 446-701, Korea

    Won Man Park & Yoon Hyuk Kim

  2. Information & SW Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information, Daejeon, 305-806, Korea

    Sangho Lee

Authors
  1. Won Man Park
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  2. Yoon Hyuk Kim
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Correspondence to Yoon Hyuk Kim.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Chang-Wan Kim

Won Man Park received his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Kyung Hee University in 2010. He is a Postdoctoral fellow at Mechanical Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Korea.

Yoon Hyuk Kim received his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from KAIST in 2000. He is an associate Professor at Mechanical Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Korea.

Sangho Lee received his B.S., M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Chung Buk National University in 1984, and Ph.D. in Polymer Engineering from Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology in 1993. He is a Principal Researcher at Scientific Data Research Team, KISTI (Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information), Korea.

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Park, W.M., Kim, Y.H. & Lee, S. Effect of intervertebral disc degeneration on biomechanical behaviors of a lumbar motion segment under physiological loading conditions. J Mech Sci Technol 27, 483–489 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-012-1264-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-012-1264-z

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