Influence of cancellous bone existence in human lumbar spine: a finite element analysis

Abstract

The aim of this study was developed an accurate computational finite element model (FEM) to simulate biomechanical response of human lumbar spine under physiological functions. In reality, anatomical intricate structure of the spine and also complex deformation in the different defection situation, severe application of finite element analyses. During computational study complexity of finite element model intensify acquire precision results and frequently leads to analyses failure. In this study the importance of cancellous bone contribution during finite element analyses of lumbar spine has been evaluated. A finite element model of lumbar (L2-L3) was generated from Computer Tomography images. Complete disectomy simulated, single cage inserted and posterior instrumentation was added in order to providing sufficient stability. Stress distribution pattern on two different models of vertebral body was included cancellous bone and cortical shell, for the first model, or totally cortical bone, for the second model, were discussed under various loading situations. The FEM developed in this study demonstrated analogus model with the natural spine anatomy make differences between results, and accurate result will obtain when FEM was exactly similar as natural model. Therefore cancellous bone existence seems necessary in finite element analyses of spine.