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. 2023 Jun 21;16(13):4514.
doi: 10.3390/ma16134514.

Finite Element Modelling of a Synthetic Paediatric Spine for Biomechanical Investigation

Nor Amalina Muhayudin  1 , Khairul Salleh Basaruddin  1   2 , Muhammad Farzik Ijaz  3   4 , Ruslizam Daud  1   2
Affiliations

Finite Element Modelling of a Synthetic Paediatric Spine for Biomechanical Investigation

Nor Amalina Muhayudin et al. Materials (Basel). .

Abstract

Studies on paediatric spines commonly use human adult or immature porcine spines as specimens, because it is difficult to obtain actual paediatric specimens. There are quite obvious differences, such as geometry, size, bone morphology, and orientation of facet joint for these specimens, compared to paediatric spine. Hence, development of synthetic models that can behave similarly to actual paediatric spines, particularly in term of range of motion (ROM), could provide a significant contribution for paediatric spine research. This study aims to develop a synthetic paediatric spine using finite element modelling and evaluate the reliability of the model by comparing it with the experimental data under certain load conditions. The ROM of the paediatric spine was measured using a validated FE model at ±0.5 Nm moment in order to determine the moment required by the synthetic spine to achieve the same ROM. The results showed that the synthetic spine required two moments, ±2 Nm for lateral-bending and axial rotation, and ±3 Nm for flexion-extension, to obtain the paediatric ROM. The synthetic spine was shown to be stiffer in flexion-extension but more flexible in lateral bending than the paediatric FE model, possibly as a result of the intervertebral disc's simplified shape and the disc's weak bonding with the vertebrae. Nevertheless, the synthetic paediatric spine has promising potential in the future as an alternative paediatric spine model for biomechanical investigation of paediatric cases.

Keywords: finite element analysis; paediatric FE model; range of motion; synthetic paediatric spine.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Process flow of the development of the finite element model for paediatric spine. (a) Sawbones model (8–9 years old), (b) 3D scan model, (c) the model is divided into vertebral body and posterior element, (d) reconstruction of the vertebral body to reflect trabecular and cortical bone, (e) model completed with trabecular and cortical bone, (f) created disc and endplate in between vertebra, (g) connected vertebral body and posterior body through pedicle, (h) stress distribution transition from vertebral body to posterior element, (i) completed paediatric spine finite element model.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) Completed multi segment model of T4–T8. (b) Example of FSU model (T4–T5), which was used to perform further analysis.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Loading and boundary conditions of all FE models. Points A and C were fixed and pure moments were applied at point B.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The synthetic model (SM) results from ± (1 to 4) Nm versus paediatric model (PM) (100%) at ±0.5 Nm.
Figure 5
Figure 5
ROM of experimental and FE model of synthetic paediatric spine under: (a) ±2 Nm moment, (b) ±3 Nm moment, (c) ±2 Nm moment of experimental vs. ±0.5 Nm moment of paediatric (bone) FE model and (d) ±3 Nm moment of experimental vs. ±0.5 Nm paediatric (bone) FE model.
Figure 5
Figure 5
ROM of experimental and FE model of synthetic paediatric spine under: (a) ±2 Nm moment, (b) ±3 Nm moment, (c) ±2 Nm moment of experimental vs. ±0.5 Nm moment of paediatric (bone) FE model and (d) ±3 Nm moment of experimental vs. ±0.5 Nm paediatric (bone) FE model.
Figure 6
Figure 6
The experimental data of the synthetic paediatric model that matched the ROM of paediatric FE model at ±0.5 Nm.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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