Maria Luisa Ruspi1, Marco Palanca1, Cesare Faldini2,3, Luca Cristofolini1. 1. Department of Industrial Engineering, School of Engineering and Architecture, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. 2. Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Italy. 3. 2 Orthopaedic and Traumatologic Clinic, Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The spine deserves careful biomechanical investigation, because of the different types of degeneration deriving from daily stress, trauma, and hard and soft tissue pathologies. Many biomechanical studies evaluated the range of motion, structural stiffness of spine segments under different loading conditions, without addressing the strain distribution. Strain gauges have been used to measure strain in the vertebral body, in a pointwise way.What is currently missing is a method to measure the distribution of strain in the soft tissues (intervertebral discs and ligaments), and an integration between measurements in the hard and soft tissues. Digital Image Correlation (DIC) is a recently developed optical technique, which allows measuring the distribution of displacements and deformation in a contact-less way. It can provide a full-field view of the examined surface under load. DIC can therefore give a more complete knowledge of the biomechanics of the spine. METHODS: This study was performed multisegmental porcine spine specimens with two loading configurations (flexion and lateral bending), while DIC was used to measure the strain distribution. The tests showed the different deformation in the vertebral body, intervertebral discs and ligaments in compression and tension. At the same time it was possible to visualize the growth plates, which are Conclusion: Significantly softer than the vertebral bone.This work showed the feasibility of investigating the spine in a full-field way, and to quantify the strain inhomogeneity in the vertebrae and soft tissues. Therefore DIC can help improve implantable devices and the surgical technique.
INTRODUCTION: The spine deserves careful biomechanical investigation, because of the different types of degeneration deriving from daily stress, trauma, and hard and soft tissue pathologies. Many biomechanical studies evaluated the range of motion, structural stiffness of spine segments under different loading conditions, without addressing the strain distribution. Strain gauges have been used to measure strain in the vertebral body, in a pointwise way.What is currently missing is a method to measure the distribution of strain in the soft tissues (intervertebral discs and ligaments), and an integration between measurements in the hard and soft tissues. Digital Image Correlation (DIC) is a recently developed optical technique, which allows measuring the distribution of displacements and deformation in a contact-less way. It can provide a full-field view of the examined surface under load. DIC can therefore give a more complete knowledge of the biomechanics of the spine. METHODS: This study was performed multisegmental porcine spine specimens with two loading configurations (flexion and lateral bending), while DIC was used to measure the strain distribution. The tests showed the different deformation in the vertebral body, intervertebral discs and ligaments in compression and tension. At the same time it was possible to visualize the growth plates, which are Conclusion: Significantly softer than the vertebral bone.This work showed the feasibility of investigating the spine in a full-field way, and to quantify the strain inhomogeneity in the vertebrae and soft tissues. Therefore DIC can help improve implantable devices and the surgical technique.
Authors: Iris Busscher; Jaap H van Dieën; Idsart Kingma; Albert J van der Veen; Gijsbertus J Verkerke; Albert G Veldhuizen Journal: Spine (Phila Pa 1976) Date: 2009-12-15 Impact factor: 3.468
Authors: Han Jo Kim; Lawrence G Lenke; Christopher I Shaffrey; Ellen M Van Alstyne; Andrea C Skelly Journal: Spine (Phila Pa 1976) Date: 2012-10-15 Impact factor: 3.468
Authors: Andy L Anderson; Terence E McIff; Marc A Asher; Douglas C Burton; R Christopher Glattes Journal: Spine (Phila Pa 1976) Date: 2009-03-01 Impact factor: 3.468
Authors: Maria Luisa Ruspi; Marco Palanca; Luca Cristofolini; Christian Liebsch; Tomaso Villa; Marco Brayda-Bruno; Fabio Galbusera; Hans-Joachim Wilke; Luigi La Barbera Journal: Materials (Basel) Date: 2020-01-14 Impact factor: 3.623