People of all ages can be affected by spinal injuries which frequently occur. The spine is composed of a succession of discs and vertebrae. Natural aging modifies the structure and properties of intervertebral discs and vertebrae through respectively disc degeneration and bone quality loss thus affecting the overall behavior of the spine. This project aims at analyzing the effects of bone quality loss and discs degeneration on vertebral fracture mechanisms.
The T11-L1 spinal segment of an existing finite element model was submitted to high speed compression (1 m/s) until failure, which represents a common injury mechanism. Using experimental results from the literature, the calibration of a degenerated disc finite element model was done. Nine simulations combining different degrees of bone quality loss and disc degeneration were performed until fracture occurred in the vertebral segment. The effects of these parameters on the behavior of the discs, vertebrae and vertebral segment were then analyzed.
The results show that aging affects the abilities of the vertebral segment to bear loading before the occurrence of a fracture. Furthermore, loading into the discs and vertebral body are transferred from the central to the peripheral regions, modifying the locations of fracture initiation.
Thus, spinal loading and fracture mechanisms are strongly dependent on bone quality loss and disc degeneration. In conclusion, it would be important to consider the effect of these factors in future studies on spine behavior such as the design of dorsal protective device.
| Date | 13 Aug 2018 |
|---|
| Original language | French |
|---|
| Awarding Institution | - École de technologie supérieure
|
|---|
| Supervisor | Éric Wagnac (Supervisor) & Yvan Petit (Co-supervisor) |
|---|
Dorsemaine, M. (Author),
Wagnac (Supervisor) &
Petit (Co-supervisor),
13 Aug 2018Student thesis: Master's thesis › Master in Engineering: Engineering