抄録
To understand mechanical characteristics of the vertebral body structure, a stress analysis of the lumbar spine was performed using the three-dimensional finite element method. The FEM model contained two adjacent vertebrae and the intervertebral disc, the structures of which were cortical bones, cancellous bones, annulus fibrosis, nucleus pulposus and ligament. Compulsorydisplacements (axial compression, flexion and extension) were applied to the model and the stresses were computed using the FEM program.
The region of high stresses was found at the supero-anterior rim of the lower vertebra in compression; at the superior aspect of the upper vertebra and the supero-anterior rim of the lower vertebra in flexion; and at the superior aspect of the upper vertebra and the supero-anterior and pesterior rims of the lower vertebra in extension.
Generally, high stresses in the sagital plane were located in the rims of vertebrae. This result may indicate the cause of osteophyte formation as a degenerative change.
