Traumatic spinal cord injuries, often resulting from high-energy accidents, rep resent a major cause of severe neurological deficits. These injuries lead to complex deformations of the cervical canal, increased stress on the spinal cord, and disruptions in its mechanical interactions with surrounding structures. A thorough understanding of these mechanisms is essential to limit secondary damage and optimize therapeutic strategies.
In the first part, this thesis focuses on characterizing the morphological changes of the cervical canal in patients with spinal cord injuries through detailed three-dimensional analysis. Measurements focus on the dimensions of the canal, the spinal cord, and the subarachnoid space to identify areas most vulnerable to compression or excessive stress.
In the second part, the nerve roots are examined to analyze their positioning and relationships with surrounding structures in the cervical canal. Emphasis is placed on the local stresses they endure, particularly in anatomical regions most affected by traumatic injuries. These analyses aim to better understand the mechanisms of tension or compression that may exacerbate neurological deficits.
In the third part, the mechanical properties of the denticulate ligaments, key structures in stabilizing the spinal cord, are studied using tensile tests. These experiments quantify their nonlinear mechanical behavior, with curve fitting performed using constitutive models such as the Ogden model, to better understand their potential role in local mechanical interactions.
| Date | 30 Oct 2025 |
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| Original language | French |
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| Awarding Institution | - École de technologie supérieure
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| Supervisor | Éric Wagnac (Supervisor) & Morgane Evin (Co-supervisor) |
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Berriot, A. (Author),
Wagnac, É. (Supervisor) & Evin, M. (Co-supervisor),
30 Oct 2025Student thesis: Doctoral thesis › Doctorate in Engineering: Engineering