Biomechanical Study of the Osteoporotic Spine Fracture: Optical Approach

Abstract

Background and objectives: Osteoporotic spine fractures represent a significant factor for decreasing quality of life in the elderly female population. Understanding the mechanisms involved in producing these fractures can improve their prevention and treatment. This study presents a biomechanical method to produce a vertebral fracture, conducted on a human spine segment, observing the displacements and strains in the intervertebral disc, endplate, and vertebral body. Materials and Methods: We performed two tests, one corresponding to an extension loading, and the second to an axial loading. Results: The maximum displacement in the target vertebral body presented higher values in the case of the extension as compared to the axial strain where it mainly occurred after the fracture was produced. The strains occurred simultaneously on both discs. In the case of the axial strain, due to the occurrence of the fracture, the maximum value was recorded in the spine body, while in the case of the extensions, it occurred in the neural part of the upper disc. The advantage of this method was that the entire study was an experiment, using optical methods, increasing the precision of the material data input. Conclusions: The research method allowed recording in real time of a larger amount of data from the different components of the spine segment. If there was an extension component of the compression force at the moment of the initial loading, part of this load was absorbed by the posterior column with higher mechanical resistance. After the maximum capacity of the absorption was reached, in both situations the behavior was similar.

Transfemoral Approach in Revision Hip Arthroplasty: A Prospective Analysis of 36 Cases: Radiological and Functional Results at a Minimum 2 Years Follow-up

“…In our study, this type of fracture showed a very good evolution of the healing of both the fracture and the OBF; in all cases, only cables were used to fix them, and it was not necessary to supplement the fixation with plates. These good results were confirmed by data from the literature reporting 100% fracture and OBF healing [31][32][33].…”

A Computer-Assisted Approach Regarding the Optimization of the Geometrical Planning of Medial Opening Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy

“…The model was discretized (meshed) and its constraints and loads were applied (Figure 8a). As this analysis was aimed at the intraoperative creation of the osteotomy wedge, the value of the applied force was 175 N. The value was chosen taking into account the values existing in the literature between 120-200 N [36,41]. Figure 8b shows the meshed geometric model to which the constraints and loads were applied.…”

“…It is worth noting the usefulness of the computer-aided approach to CAD-CAM methods of medical aspects through the superior possibilities of processing the results obtained on virtual models. Such biomechanical approaches are present in the literature [41,42].…”

Comparison of thoracolumbar versus non-thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures in risk factors, vertebral compression degree and pre-hospital back pain

“…The worldwide incidence of OVCF was estimated to be 1.4 million per year [ 3 ], which most often involved thoracolumbar spine [ 4 ]. Biomechanical modeling has revealed that the junction of thoracic and lumbar spine yields mechanical stress on different patterns of loading [ 5 – 9 ], thus increasing the risk of thoracolumbar OVCF (TL-OVCF). On the other hand, mechanical support from rib cage and paravertebral muscles might help to reduce the risk of non-thoracolumbar OVCF (nTL-OVCF) in middle thoracic and lower lumbar spine [ 5 , 9 , 10 ].…”

“…Biomechanical modeling has revealed that the junction of thoracic and lumbar spine yields mechanical stress on different patterns of loading [ 5 – 9 ], thus increasing the risk of thoracolumbar OVCF (TL-OVCF). On the other hand, mechanical support from rib cage and paravertebral muscles might help to reduce the risk of non-thoracolumbar OVCF (nTL-OVCF) in middle thoracic and lower lumbar spine [ 5 , 9 , 10 ]. In addition to bone fragility and mechanical stress, evidence accumulates that OVCF are associated with multiple risk factors ranging from aging, female gender, comorbidity of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, to life styles such as chronic smoking and alcohol consumption [ 11 – 14 ].…”