Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Using the Finite Element Method to Determine the Influence of Age, Height and Weight on the Vertebrae and Ligaments of the Human Spine

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Advances on Mechanics, Design Engineering and Manufacturing

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering ((LNME))

Abstract

This study uses the Finite Element Method (FEM) to analyze the influence of age, height and weight on the vertebrae and ligaments of the human functional spinal unit (FSU). Two different artificial segments and the influence of the patient’s age, sex and height were considered. The FSU analyzed herein was based on standard human dimensions. It was fully parameterized first in engineering modelling format using CATIA© software. A combination of different elements (FE) were developed with Abaqus© software to model a healthy human FSU and the two different sizes of artificial segments. Healthy and artificial FSU Finite Element models (FE models) were subjected to compressive loads of differing values. Spinal compression forces, posture data and male/female anthropometry were obtained using 3DSSPP© software Heights ranging from 1.70 to 1.90 meters; ages, between 30 and 80 years and body weights between 75 and 90 kg were considered for both men and women. Artificial models were based on the Charité prosthesis. The artificial prosthesis consisted of two titanium alloy endplates and an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) core. An analysis in which the contacts between the vertebrae and the intervertebral disc, as well as the behavior of the seven ligaments, were taken into consideration. The Von Mises stresses for both the cortical and trabecular bone of the upper and lower vertebrae, and the longitudinal stresses corresponding to the seven ligaments that connect the FSU were analyzed. The stresses obtained for the two geometries that were studied by means of the artificial FE models were very similar to the stresses that were obtained from healthy FE models.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Whatley, Benjamin R.; WEN, Xuejun. Intervertebral disc (IVD): structure, degeneration, repair and regeneration. Materials Science and Engineering: C, 2012, vol. 32, no 2, p. 61-77.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Epifanio, V.A., Adrián, E.. B.Diseño de prótesis para disco intervertebral. Memorias del XV Congreso Internacional Anual de la Somim, 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Trincat, S., et al. Two-level lumbar total disc replacement: Functional outcomes and segmental motion after 4 years. Orthopaedics & Traumatology: Surgery & Research, 2015, vol. 101, no 1, p. 17-21.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Lan, Chin-Chun, et al. Finite element analysis of biomechanical behavior of whole thoraco-lumbar spine with ligamentous effect. The Changhua Journal of Medicine, 2013, vol. 11, p. 26-41.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Gutiérrez, Ramiro Arturo González. Biomechanical study of intervertebral disc degeneration. 2012. Tesis Doctoral. Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Weiss, J. A., Gardiner, J. C., Ellis, B. J., Lujan, T. J., & Phatak, N. S. (2005). Three-dimensional finite element modeling of ligaments: technical aspects.Medical engineering & physics, 27(10), 845-861.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Rohlmann, Antonius, et al. Analysis of the influence of disc degeneration on the mechanical behaviour of a lumbar motion segment using the finite element method. Journal of biomechanics, 2006, vol. 39, no 13, p. 2484-2490.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Beristain lima, S. A. U. L. Diseño de una prótesis articulada para disco intervertebral. 2010. Tesis Doctoral.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Hoffler, C. E., et al. Age, gender, and bone lamellae elastic moduli. Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 2000, vol. 18, no 3, p. 432-437.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Chen, Huayue, et al. Age-related changes in trabecular and cortical bone microstructure. International journal of endocrinology, 2013, vol. 2013.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Christiansen, Blaine A., et al. Mechanical contributions of the cortical and trabecular compartments contribute to differences in age‐related changes in vertebral body strength in men and women assessed by QCT‐based finite element analysis. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 2011, vol. 26, no 5, p. 974-983.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Keaveny, Tony M.; Hayes, Wilson C. A 20-year perspective on the mechanical properties of trabecular bone. Journal of biomechanical engineering, 1993, vol. 115, no 4B, p. 534-542.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Ebbensen, Ebbe N., et al. Age‐and Gender‐Related Differences in Vertebral Bone Mass, Density, and Strength. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 1999, vol. 14, no 8, p. 1394-1403.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Guan, Y., Yoganandan, N., Moore, J., Pintar, F. A., Zhang, J., Maiman, D. J., & Laud, P. (2007). Moment–rotation responses of the human lumbosacral spinal column. Journal of biomechanics, 40(9), 1975-1980.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Lu, Y. M., Hutton, W. C., & Gharpuray, V. M. (1996). Do bending, twisting, and diurnal fluid changes in the disc affect the propensity to prolapse? A viscoelastic finite element model. Spine, 21(22), 2570-2579.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Denozière, G., & Ku, D. N. (2006). Biomechanical comparison between fusion of two vertebrae and implantation of an artificial intervertebral disc. Journal of biomechanics, 39(4), 766-775.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Pitzen, T., Geisler, F., Matthis, D., Müller-Storz, H., Barbier, D., Steudel, W. I., & Feldges, A. (2002). A finite element model for predicting the biomechanical behaviour of the human lumbar spine. Control Engineering Practice, 10(1), 83-90.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Shirazi-adl, S. A., Shrivastava, S. C., & Ahmed, A. M. (1984). Stress analysis of the lumbar disc-body unit in compression a three-dimensional nonlinear finite element study. Spine, 9(2), 120-134.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Yao, J., Turteltaub, S. R., & Ducheyne, P. (2006). A three-dimensional nonlinear finite element analysis of the mechanical behavior of tissue engineered intervertebral discs under complex loads. Biomaterials, 27(3), 377-387.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Eberlein∗, Robert., Holzapfel†, G. A., & Schulze-Bauer‡, C. A. (2001). An anisotropic model for annulus tissue and enhanced finite element analyses of intact lumbar disc bodies. Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, 4(3), 209-229.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Vacas, F. G., Juanco, F. E., de la Blanca, A. P., Novoa, M. P., & Pozo, S. P. (2014). The flexion–extension response of a novel lumbar intervertebral disc prosthesis: A finite element study. Mechanism and Machine Theory, 73, 273-281.

    Google Scholar 

  22. White, Augustus A., et al. Clinical biomechanics of the spine. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanical Engineering Department, University of La Rioja, 26004, Logrono, La Rioja, Spain

    Fátima Somovilla-Gómez, Rubén Lostado-Lorza, Saúl Íñiguez-Macedo, Marina Corral-Bobadilla, María Ángeles Martínez-Calvo & Daniel Tobalina-Baldeon

Authors
  1. Fátima Somovilla-Gómez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rubén Lostado-Lorza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Saúl Íñiguez-Macedo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Marina Corral-Bobadilla
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. María Ángeles Martínez-Calvo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Daniel Tobalina-Baldeon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fátima Somovilla-Gómez .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Université de Technologie de Compiègne , Compiègne, France

    Benoit Eynard

  2. Dip di Ingegneria Chimica, Gest,Info,Mec, Università degli Studi di Palermo Dip di Ingegneria Chimica, Gest,Info,Mec, Palermo, Italy

    Vincenzo Nigrelli

  3. Dip di Ing, Elet, e Elet, Inform (DIEEI), Università degli Studi di Catania Dip di Ing, Elet, e Elet, Inform (DIEEI), Catania, Italy

    Salvatore Massimo Oliveri

  4. Camino De Vera S/N, Universidad Politecnica de Valencia Camino De Vera S/N, Valencia, Spain

    Guillermo Peris-Fajarnes

  5. Dept of Mechanical Energy and Management, University of Calabria Dept of Mechanical Energy and Management, Rende (Cosenza), Italy

    Sergio Rizzuti

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Somovilla-Gómez, F., Lostado-Lorza, R., Íñiguez-Macedo, S., Corral-Bobadilla, M., Martínez-Calvo, M.Á., Tobalina-Baldeon, D. (2017). Using the Finite Element Method to Determine the Influence of Age, Height and Weight on the Vertebrae and Ligaments of the Human Spine. In: Eynard, B., Nigrelli, V., Oliveri, S., Peris-Fajarnes, G., Rizzuti, S. (eds) Advances on Mechanics, Design Engineering and Manufacturing . Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45781-9_49

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45781-9_49

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-45780-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-45781-9

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation