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Biomechanics and Spinal Modelling

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Spinal Anatomy

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Abstract

Among the essential biomechanical functions of the spine are those of maintaining a stable posture and of allowing movements during walking, activities of daily living or when practicing a sport. This chapter addresses geometric and biomechanical modelling for both basic knowledge and clinical issues related to spine disorders, their prevention and management.

Geometric modelling of the skeleton from biplanar X-rays allows quantitative 3D analysis in the erect position. This load bearing posture is characterized by maintaining head above the pelvis. Compensation strategies take place to maintain that constraint, such as pelvic retroversion or cervical lordosis. Progressive understanding of these mechanisms should have clinical impact.

Large-scale analysis also progressively provides new biomarkers, such as a severity index for early detection of a progressive scoliosis.

Biomechanical modelling takes into account not only the geometry but also the mechanical characteristics of each material in each region of the model. Dedicated software then allows to simulate different types of forces exerted on this structure and to compute the mechanical response, in terms of displacements, local strain and global deformation, and mechanical stresses which, if they are excessive, cause the damage to this system. Such models can drastically reduce the design time of an implant, by sensitivity studies that allow understanding the impact of implants design parameters. Subject-specific modelling opens up promising prospects for helping to plan treatments that consider the specificities of each individual.

The spine is an essential component of the musculoskeletal system. A gradual evolution has emerged over the last 30 years, from a very local view of the area of direct interest (functional unit or extended vertebral segment) to the global vision considering the longitudinal skeleton as a whole submitted to gravity loads and muscular forces. Advances in barycentremetry analysis, in personalized muscle modelling and in muscular control modelling, should lead to a better understanding of the interaction between postural and/or muscular troubles and spine disorders.

Thus, modelling provides valuable insights for a better, earlier and more accurate diagnosis, and for a quantitative assessment of the effect of treatments. The better understanding of the mechanisms of degradation with individual specificities should be a source of major progress and breakthrough innovations in prevention and therapeutic management.

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Acknowledgements

It is difficult to thank everyone involved in the research mentioned in this chapter. Thank you to the team of the ENSAM Biomechanics Laboratory, now the Georges Charpak Institute of Human Biomechanics, as well as the clinical and industrial partners of this research.

This research is benefited from financial support under the ParisTech biomecAM Chair in subject-specific modelling, with the support of the Yves Cotrel Foundation for research in spinal pathology, the Protéor company, Société Générale and the Covéa group. This Chair allows basic research, which is essential to progress. Thanks to the institutional supports and partners of the European VPHOP project, the FUI STEREOS + and DEXEOS projects and the CORSIN project.

Beyond these references and the rich international scientific literature on the subject, the reader will be able to refer to the PhDs on Spine research carried out at ENSAM on various aspects, in order to deepen the aspects addressed in this document of biomechanics and spine modelling, both by engineers and by clinicians: W. Skalli (1983), F. Lavaste (1990 state thesis), S. Robin (1992), N. Maurel (1993), W. Koubaa (1995), JL. Descrimes (1995), S. Veron (1997), P. Leborgne (1998), A. Templier (1998), N. Bertholon (1999), C. Lecire (1999), A. Mitulescu (2001), V. Pomero (2002), R. Dumas (2002), V. Lafage (2002), B. Fréchède (2003), Ph. Dupont (2004), S. Campana (2004), N. Champain (2004), O. Gille (2006), Y. Lafon (2006), MA. Rousseau (2007), S. Champain (2008), T. Mosnier (2008), E. Sapin (2008), A. Laville (2010), C. Barrey (2011), X. Drevelle (2011), J. S. Steffen (2011), A. Courvoisier (2012), B. Ilharreborde (2012), Y. P. Charles (2012), C. Travert (2013), B. Moal (2014), L. Venancio (2014), M. Prud’homme (2014).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut de Biomécanique Humaine Georges Charpak, Arts et Métiers ParisTech, Paris, France

    W. Skalli & P. Rouch

  2. Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, IFSTTAR, LBMC UMR_T9406, Lyon, France

    D. Mitton

  3. National Academy of Medicine, Paris, France

    J. Dubousset

Authors
  1. W. Skalli
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  4. J. Dubousset
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Correspondence to W. Skalli .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Spinal Unit, Centre Hospitalier, Universitaire de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France

    Jean Marc Vital

  2. Spinal Unit, Centre Hospitalier, Universitaire de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France

    Derek Thomas Cawley

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Skalli, W., Mitton, D., Rouch, P., Dubousset, J. (2020). Biomechanics and Spinal Modelling. In: Vital, J., Cawley, D. (eds) Spinal Anatomy . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20925-4_32

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20925-4_32

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