Mathematical models of the human spine can be used to investigate spinal biomechanics without the difficulties, limitations, and ethical concerns associated with physical experimentation. Validation of such models is necessary to ensure that the modeled system behavior accurately represents the physics of the actual system. The goal of this work was to validate a medical image-based nonlinear lumbosacral spine finite element model of a healthy 20-yr-old female subject under physiological moments. Range of motion (ROM), facet joint forces (FJF), and intradiscal pressure (IDP) were compared with experimental values and validated finite element models from the literature. The finite element model presented in this work was in good agreement with published experimental studies and finite element models under pure moments. For applied moments of 7.5 N·m, the ROM in flexion–extension, axial rotation, and lateral bending were 39 deg, 16 deg, and 28 deg, respectively. Excellent agreement was observed between the finite element model and experimental data for IDP under pure compressive loading. The predicted FJFs were lower than those of the experimental results and validated finite element models for extension and torsion, likely due to the nondegenerate properties chosen for the intervertebral disks and morphology of the young female spine. This work is the first to validate a computational lumbar spine model of a young female subject. This model will serve as a valuable tool for predicting orthopedic spinal injuries, studying the effect of intervertebral disk replacements using advanced biomaterials, and investigating soft tissue degeneration.
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March 2019
Research-Article
Validation of an In Vivo Medical Image-Based Young Human Lumbar Spine Finite Element Model
Matthew J. Mills,
Matthew J. Mills
Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering Department,
University of California, Davis,
2132 Bainer Drive,
Davis, CA 95616
e-mail: mjmills@ucdavis.edu
Engineering Department,
University of California, Davis,
2132 Bainer Drive,
Davis, CA 95616
e-mail: mjmills@ucdavis.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Nesrin Sarigul-Klijn
Nesrin Sarigul-Klijn
Professor
Fellow ASME
Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering Department,
University of California, Davis,
2132 Bainer Drive,
Davis, CA 95616;
Fellow ASME
Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering Department,
University of California, Davis,
2132 Bainer Drive,
Davis, CA 95616;
Biomedical Engineering Department,
University of California, Davis,
451 E. Health Sciences Drive,
Davis, CA 95616
e-mail: nsarigulklijn@ucdavis.edu
University of California, Davis,
451 E. Health Sciences Drive,
Davis, CA 95616
e-mail: nsarigulklijn@ucdavis.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Matthew J. Mills
Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering Department,
University of California, Davis,
2132 Bainer Drive,
Davis, CA 95616
e-mail: mjmills@ucdavis.edu
Engineering Department,
University of California, Davis,
2132 Bainer Drive,
Davis, CA 95616
e-mail: mjmills@ucdavis.edu
Nesrin Sarigul-Klijn
Professor
Fellow ASME
Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering Department,
University of California, Davis,
2132 Bainer Drive,
Davis, CA 95616;
Fellow ASME
Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering Department,
University of California, Davis,
2132 Bainer Drive,
Davis, CA 95616;
Biomedical Engineering Department,
University of California, Davis,
451 E. Health Sciences Drive,
Davis, CA 95616
e-mail: nsarigulklijn@ucdavis.edu
University of California, Davis,
451 E. Health Sciences Drive,
Davis, CA 95616
e-mail: nsarigulklijn@ucdavis.edu
1Corresponding author.
Manuscript received May 5, 2018; final manuscript received November 25, 2018; published online January 18, 2019. Assoc. Editor: Joel D. Stitzel.
J Biomech Eng. Mar 2019, 141(3): 031003 (12 pages)
Published Online: January 18, 2019
Article history
Received:
May 5, 2018
Revised:
November 25, 2018
Citation
Mills, M. J., and Sarigul-Klijn, N. (January 18, 2019). "Validation of an In Vivo Medical Image-Based Young Human Lumbar Spine Finite Element Model." ASME. J Biomech Eng. March 2019; 141(3): 031003. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4042183
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