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Changes in range of motion, intradiscal pressure, and facet joint force after intervertebral disc and facet joint degeneration in the cervical spine

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Abstract

Degeneration of the intervertebral discs and facet joints is considered a source of pain in the cervical spine. In this study, we developed finite element models of cervical spines that were healthy or had various extents of degeneration and investigated changes in biomechanical behaviors of the cervical spine, such as range of motion (ROM), intradiscal pressure, and facet joint forces. Degenerative changes associated with mild, moderate, and severe degeneration of the disc and facet joint were described at the C5-C6 motion segment unit (MSU). With progression of degeneration, intersegmental ROM decreased at the degenerated MSU but increased at the healthy MSUs, intradiscal pressure decreased at the degenerated MSU but only slightly changed at the healthy MSUs, and facet joint forces at both degenerated and healthy MSUs increased. These findings could be used to understand the mechanisms underlying injury of the cervical spine caused by disc and facet joint degeneration.

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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. Department of Applied Mathematics, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, 446-701, Korea

    Kyungsoo Kim

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

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Won Hyoung Ryu

Won Man Park received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Kyung Hee University in 2010. He is a Postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Kyung Hee University, Korea. His research interests include biomechanical and biomedical engineering.

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 in the Department of Applied Mathematics, Kyung Hee University, Korea. His research interests include numerical analysis, mathematical modeling, and biomechanical engineering.

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 in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Korea. His research interests include biomechanical and biomedical engineering.

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Park, W.M., Kim, K. & Kim, Y.H. Changes in range of motion, intradiscal pressure, and facet joint force after intervertebral disc and facet joint degeneration in the cervical spine. J Mech Sci Technol 29, 3031–3038 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-015-0633-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-015-0633-9

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