Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2018 Apr;15(4):3225-3230.
doi: 10.3892/etm.2018.5848. Epub 2018 Feb 7.

Finite element analysis of compression fractures at the thoracolumbar junction using models constructed from medical images

Daisuke Nakashima  1 , Tsukasa Kanchiku  1 , Norihiro Nishida  1 , Saki Ito  2 , Junji Ohgi  2 , Hidenori Suzuki  1 , Yasuaki Imajo  1 , Masahiro Funaba  1 , Xian Chen  2 , Toshihiko Taguchi  1
Affiliations

Finite element analysis of compression fractures at the thoracolumbar junction using models constructed from medical images

Daisuke Nakashima et al. Exp Ther Med. 2018 Apr.

Abstract

Vertebral fractures commonly occur at the thoracolumbar junction. These fractures can be treated with mild residual deformity in many cases, but are reportedly associated with increased risk of secondary vertebral fractures. In the present study, a three-dimensional (3D) whole spine model was constructed using the finite element method to explore the mechanism of development of compression fractures. The 3D model of the whole spine, from the cervical spine to the pelvis, was constructed from computed tomography (CT) images of an adult male. Using a normal spine model and spine models with compression fractures at the T11, T12 or L1 vertebrae, the distribution of strain was analyzed in the vertebrae after load application. The normal spine model demonstrated greater strain around the thoracolumbar junction and the middle thoracic spine, while the compression fracture models indicated focused strain at the fracture site and adjacent vertebrae. Increased load time resulted in the extension of the strain region up to the middle thoracic spine. The present findings, that secondary vertebral fractures commonly occur around the fracture site, and may also affect the thoracic vertebrae, are consistent with previous clinical and experimental results. These results suggest that follow-up examinations of compression fractures at the thoracolumbar junction should include the thoracic spine and adjacent vertebrae. The current data also demonstrate that models created from CT images can be used for various analyses.

Keywords: computed tomography; finite element method; secondary vertebral fracture; spinal compression fracture; thoracolumbar junction.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Normal model construction. (A) Cortical bone, (B) cancellous bone and (C) intervertebral discs were mapped from computed tomography images.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Compression model construction. (A) The T11 10° compression fracture model was created by trimming the cranial and caudal surfaces of the T11 vertebrae by 5° each. (B) The T11 20° compression fracture model was created by trimming the cranial and caudal surfaces of the T11 vertebrae by 10° each.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Computer model of load application after 0.004 sec. (A) Normal spine model. (B) T11 10° compression fracture model. (C) T11 20° compression fracture model. (D) T12 10° compression fracture model. (E) T12 20° compression fracture model. (F) L1 10° compression fracture model. (G) L1 20° compression fracture model.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Computer model of load application after 0.01 sec. (A) Normal spine model. (B) T11 10° compression fracture model. (C) T11 20° compression fracture model. (D) T12 10° compression fracture model. (E) T12 20° compression fracture model. (F) L1 10° compression fracture model. (G) L1 20° compression fracture model.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Minimum principal strain after 0.004 sec. (A) Normal spine model. (B) T11 10° compression fracture model. (C) T11 20° compression fracture model. (D) T12 10° compression fracture model. (E) T12 20° compression fracture model. (F) L1 10° compression fracture model. (G) L1 20° compression fracture model.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Minimum principal strain after 0.01 sec. (A) Normal spine model. (B) T11 10° compression fracture model. (C) T11 20° compression fracture model. (D) T12 10° compression fracture model. (E) T12 20° compression fracture model. (F) L1 10° compression fracture model. (G) L1 20° compression fracture model.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Yoshimura N, Kinoshita H, Oka H, Muraki S, Mabuchi A, Kawaguchi H, Nakamura K. Cumulative incidence and changes in the prevalence of vertebral fractures in a rural Japanese community: A 10-year follow-up of the Miyama cohort. Arch Osteoporos. 2006;1:43–49. doi: 10.1007/s11657-006-0007-0. - DOI
    1. Yoshimura N, Muraki S, Oka H, Mabuchi A, En-Yo Y, Yoshida M, Saika A, Yoshida H, Suzuki T, Yamamoto S, et al. Prevalence of knee osteoarthritis, lumbar spondylosis, and osteoporosis in Japanese men and women: The research on osteoarthritis/osteoporosis against disability study. J Bone Miner Metab. 2009;27:620–628. doi: 10.1007/s00774-009-0080-8. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Kitazawa A, Kushida K, Yamazaki K, Inoue T. Prevalence of vertebral fractures in a population-based sample in Japan. J Bone Miner Metab. 2001;19:115–118. doi: 10.1007/s007740170049. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Wasnich RD. Vertebral fracture epidemiology. Bone. 1996;18(3 Suppl):179S–183S. doi: 10.1016/8756-3282(95)00499-8. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Ismail AA, Cooper C, Felsenberg D, Varlow J, Kanis JA, Silman AJ, O'Neill TW. Number and type of vertebral deformities: Epidemiological characteristics and relation to back pain and height loss. European vertebral osteoporosis study group. Osteoporos Int. 1999;9:206–213. doi: 10.1007/s001980050138. - DOI - PubMed