Development and evaluation of sex-specific thoracolumbar spine finite element models to study spine biomechanics.

Publisher: Springer Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 7704869 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1741-0444 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 01400118 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Med Biol Eng Comput Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: New York, NY : Springer
Original Publication: Stevenage, Eng., Peregrinus.

Intervertebral Disc*/physiology ; Low Back Pain*; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Lumbar Vertebrae/physiology ; Finite Element Analysis ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Muscles ; Range of Motion, Articular/physiology

Musculoskeletal disorders and low back pain (LBP) are common global afflictions, with a higher prevalence observed in females. However, the cause of many LBP cases continues to elude researchers. Current approaches seldom consider differences in male and female spines. Thus, this study aimed to compare the load distribution between male and female spines through finite element modeling. Two finite element models of the spine, one male and one female, were developed, inclusive of sex-specific geometry and material properties. The models consisted of the vertebrae, intervertebral discs (IVD), tendons, surrounding spinal muscles, and thoracolumbar fascia and were subjected to loading conditions simulating flexion and extension. Following extensive validation against published literature, intersegmental rotation, IVD stress, and vertebral body stress were evaluated. The female model demonstrated increased magnitudes for rotation and stresses when compared to the male model. Results suggest that the augmented stresses in the female model indicate an increased load distribution throughout the spine compared to the male model. These findings may corroborate the higher prevalence of LBP in females. This study highlights the importance of using patient- and sex-specific models for patient analyses and care.
(© 2023. International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering.)

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Keywords: Biomechanics; Finite element analysis; Spine; Thoracolumbar

Date Created: 20231229 Date Completed: 20240320 Latest Revision: 20240320

20250114

10.1007/s11517-023-03003-w

38157201