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    Biomechanics of the lumbar spine after dynamic stabilization

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    Target of the study was to predict the biomechanics of the instrumented and adjacent levels due to the insertion of the DIAM spinal stabilization system (Medtronic Ltd). For this purpose, a 3-dimensional finite element model of the intact L3/ S1 segment was developed and subjected to different loading conditions (flexion, extension, lateral bending, axial rotation). The model was then instrumented at the L4/L5 level and the same loading conditions were reapplied. Within the assumptions of our model, the simulation results suggested that the implant caused a reduction in range of motion of the instrumented level by 17% in flexion and by 43% in extension, whereas at the adjacent levels, no significant changes were predicted. Numerical results in terms of intradiscal pressure, relative to the intact condition, predicted that the intervertebral disc at the instrumented level was unloaded by 27% in flexion, by 51% in extension, and by 6% in axial rotation, while no variations in pressure were caused by the device in lateral bending. At the adjacent levels, a change of relative intradiscal pressure was predicted in extension, both at the L3/L4 level, which resulted unloaded by 26% and at the L5/S1 level, unloaded by 8%. Furthermore, a reduction in terms of principal compressive stress in the annulus fibrosus of the L4/L5 instrumented level was predicted, as compared with the intact condition. These numerical predictions have to be regarded as a theoretical representation of the behavior of the spine, because any finite element model represents only a simplification of the real Structure

    Porcine models in spinal research: calibration and comparative finite element analysis of various configurations during flexion-extension.

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    This study was conducted to develop and calibrate a detailed 3-dimensional finite element model of the porcine lumbar spine and to compare this model with various configurations in flexion and extension. Computed tomography scans obtained from the L4-L5 lumbar segment of a Landrace x Large White pig were used to generate a solid volume. The various passive components were characterized by using a step-by-step calibration procedure in which the material properties of the anatomic structures were modified to match the corresponding in vitro data set-points retrieved from the literature. The range of motion of the totally assembled intact model was assessed under a 10-Nm flexion-extension moment and compared with data from a bilateral complete and hemifacetectomy configuration. In addition, the results from our porcine model were compared with published data regarding range of motion in a human finite element model in order to predict the configuration of the porcine model that most closely represented the human spine. Both the intact and hemifacetectomy configurations of the porcine model were comparable to the human spine. However, qualitative analysis of the instantaneous axis of rotation revealed a dissimilarity between the intact porcine model and human spine behavior, indicating the hemifacetectomy configuration of the porcine model as the most appropriate for spinal instrumentation studies. The present 3-dimensional finite element porcine model offers an additional tool to improve understanding of the biomechanics of the porcine spine and to decrease the expense of spinal research
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