Popov A. I, Perfiliev O. V., Karpinsky M. Yu., Yaresko O. V.

STUDY OF THE STRESS-STRAIN STATE OF INTERVERTEBRAL DISC ELEMENTS OF THE LUMBAR SPINE IN CASE OF VIOLATION OF THE INTEGRITY OF THE ANNULUS FIBROSUS BASED ON FINITE ELEMENT MODELING

---

Show/Download

About the author:

Popov A. I, Perfiliev O. V., Karpinsky M. Yu., Yaresko O. V.

Heading:

METHODS AND METHODOLOGIES

Type of article:

Scientific article

Annotation:

Violation of the integrity of the annulus fibrosus is one of the key morphological factors in the formation of degenerative changes in the intervertebral disc. Purpose. To determine the influence of defects in the annulus fibrosus of intervertebral discs on the patterns of stress distribution and the magnitude of relative deformations of elements of the lumbar spine using the finite element method. A mathematical finite element model of the human lumbar spine was developed, which contained vertebrae, sacrum, intervertebral discs and cartilage in the facet joints. The stress-strain state of the model after discectomy was studied: 1 – discs without damage (normal): 2 – damage to the L4-L5 disc; 3 – damage to the L5-S1 disc; 4 – combined damage to the L4-L5 and L5-S1 discs. The presence of a defect in the annulus fibrosus of the disc leads to an increase in the level of deformation of its pulpous nucleus. The most vulnerable was the intervertebral disc L5–S1. Under physiological loading, relative deformations of its annulus fibrosus were observed up to 30% in the anterior section and 40% in the posterior section. With an additional load of +25 kg, these values increased to 51% (anterior section) and 68% (posterior section). With a load of +50 kg, up to 72% (anterior section) and 96% (posterior section), which practically corresponds to disc rupture. A weakened annulus causes an increase in pressure in the nucleus pulposus, which leads to large deformations of the annulus and thus a pathological ring is formed. High relative deformations (up to ~70-90%) under additional loading indicate that patients with a defect in the annulus fibrosus are at increased risk of further disc destabilization or rupture.

Tags:

Bibliography:

1. Hartvigsen J, Hancock MJ, Kongsted A, Louw Q, Ferreira ML, Genevay S, et al. What low back pain is and why we need to pay attention. Lancet. 2018;391(10137):2356-2367. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30480-X.
2. Battie MC, Videman T. Lumbar disc degeneration: epidemiology and genetics. OUP Academic. 2006;45(3):317-324. DOI: 10.2106/ JBJS.E.01313.
3. Fardon DF, Williams AL, Dohring EJ, Murtagh FR, Gabriel Rothman SL, Sze GK. Lumbar disc nomenclature: version 2.0: Recommendations of the combined task forces of the North American Spine Society, the American Society of Spine Radiology and the American Society of Neuroradiology. Spine J. 2014;14(11):2525-45. DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2014.04.022.
4. Tanaka N, An HS, Lim TH, Fujiwara A, Jeon CH, Haughton VM. The relationship between disc degeneration and flexibility of the lumbar spine. Spine J. 2001;1(1):47-56. DOI: 10.1016/s1529-9430(01)00006-7.
5. Adams MA, Roughley PJ. What is intervertebral disc degeneration, and what causes it? Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2006;31(18):2151-61. DOI: 10.1097/01.brs.0000231761.73859.2c.
6. Vergroesen PPA, Kingma I, Emanuel KS, Hoogendoorn RJW, Welting TJ, van Royen BJ, et al. Mechanics and biology in intervertebral disc degeneration: a vicious circle. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 2015;23(7):1057-1070. DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2015.03.028.
7. Kong WZ, Goel VK. Ability of the finite element models to predict response of the human spine to sinusoidal vertical vibration. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2003;28(17):1961-7. DOI: 10.1097/01.BRS.0000083236.33361.C5.
8. Chosa E, Goto K, Totoribe K, Tajima N. Analysis of the effect of lumbar spine fusion on the superior adjacent intervertebral disk in the presence of disk degeneration, using the three-dimensional finite element method. Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques. 2004;17(2):134-139. DOI: 10.1097/00024 720-200404000-00010.
9. Popsuyshapka K, Teslenko S, Popov A, Karpinsky M, Yaresko O. Study of the stress-strain state of the spine model for various methods of treatment for fractures of the bodies of the thoracic spine. Trauma. 2022;23(5):53-64. DOI: 10.22141/1608-1706.5.23.2022.9165.
10. Vidal-Lesso A, Ledesma-Orozco E, Daza-Benítez L, Lesso-Arroyo R. Mechanical Characterization of Femoral Cartilage Under Unicompartimental Osteoarthritis. Ingeniería Mecánica Tecnología y Desarrollo. 2014;4(6):239-246.
11. Clin J, Aubin CE, Lalonde N, Parent S, Labelle H. A new method to include the gravitational forces in a finite element model of the scoliotic spine. Med Biol Eng Comput. 2011;49(8):967-77. DOI: 10.1007/s11517-011-0793-4.
12. Gere JM, Timoshenko SP. Mechanics of Material. Boston: PWS Press; 1997. 912 s.
13. Rao SS. The Finite Element Method in Engineering. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. 2017. 782 s.
14. Cui XL, Yang WM, Ding A, Ding A, Zhu J, Zhang W, et al. Characteristics and mechanical mechanisms of intervertebral disc degeneration in old thoracolumbar fractures with kyphosis: clinical observations and finite element analyses. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2024;25:1040. DOI: 10.1186/s12891-024-08157-8.
15. Chen JX, Li YH, Wen J, Li Z, Yu BS, Huang YC. Annular Defects Impair the Mechanical Stability of the Intervertebral Disc. Global Spine J. 2023;13(3):724-729. DOI: 10.1177/21925682211006061.
16. Urban JP, Roberts S. Degeneration of the intervertebral disc. Arthritis Res Ther. 2003;5(3):120-30. DOI: 10.1186/ar629.

Publication of the article:

«Bulletin of problems biology and medicine», 2025 Issue 4, 179, 237-262 pages, index UDC 616.711.6-007.43:612.76:519.876.5

DOI:

10.29254/2077-4214-2025-4-179-237-262