THE EFFECT OF LOADING MODE ON THE STRUCTURAL RESPONSE OF HUMAN SPINE WITH UNCONTAINED OSTEOLYTIC DEFECT: A COMPUTATIONAL STUDY

Ron N. Alkalay, Ph.D. - Harvard Medical School- Orthopedic Biomechanics Laboratory, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Timothy Harrigan, Ph.D. - Foster-Miller Inc., Waltham, MA

Pathologic vertebral fractures, resulting from metastasis within the vertebral bone, severally compromised the weight bearing capacity of the affected vertebra and potentially cause it to undergo catastrophic failure. This preliminary computational study provides a platform for studying fracture and failure processes involving metastatic tumors of the spine, and for addressing several clinical decisions that are relevant to care for patients with tumors of the spine. High-resolution anatomically correct models are created from CT scans of human spines with clinically relevant patterns of osteolytic defects and the models converted to High-resolution parametric, material weighted FEA models. Within ABAQUS, contact areas and composite models for the intervertebral disc and spinal ligaments are established. Using these models, the effect of osteolytic defect and functional loading scenarios on the structural response of human lumbar spine is highlighted. Since patients with metastatic spine tumors often have a poor prognosis, this work aims to inform surgical decisions and develop novel technologies and material choices best suited to treat these clinically frail patients.

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