Assessment of biomechanical stability of the thoracolumbar junction with a burst fracture of Th12 following surgical stabilization under rotational loading

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15587/2519-4798.2024.306367

Keywords:

Thoracolumbar junction, traumatic injury, transpedicular fixation, burst fracture, rotational loading

Abstract

The thoracolumbar junction is the most vulnerable to traumatic injuries, with over 65 % of injuries to the thoracolumbar spine occurring in this region.

Objective: To examine the stress-strain state of the thoracolumbar spine model with a burst fracture of the Th12 vertebra under various transpedicular fixation options influenced by rotational loading.

Materials and Methods: A mathematical finite-element model of the human thoracolumbar spine was developed, including a burst fracture of the Th12 vertebra and a transpedicular stabilization system containing eight screws implanted in the Th10, Th11, L1, and L2 vertebrae. Four variants of transpedicular fixation were modelled using short and long screws passing through the anterior surface of the vertebra, with and without two crosslinks.

Results: The analysis showed sufficiently high loading values for both the bone structures of the models and the elements of the metal construct. The maximum stress level in the body of the damaged vertebra was 33.2, 26.7, 30.1, and 24.2 MPa, respectively, for models with monocortical screws without crosslinks, bicortical screws without crosslinks, monocortical screws with crosslinks, and bicortical screws with crosslinks. High values were also recorded for the vertebrae adjacent to the damaged one: 13.0, 8.4, 10.9, and 7.1 MPa for the L1 vertebra and 10.2, 8.9, 7.1, and 6.2 MPa for the Th11 vertebra in the respective models. The stress on the supporting rods was registered at 582.0, 512.5, 512.6, and 452.7 MPa respectively.

Conclusion: The conducted analysis demonstrated that under rotational loading, the model with monocortical screws without crosslinks shows the highest peak loads at control points, whereas the model with bicortical screws and crosslinks shows the minimum. Meanwhile, models with short screws and crosslinks and long screws without crosslinks exhibit comparable results

Author Biographies

Oleksii Nekhlopochyn, Romodanov Neurosurgery Institute of National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine

PhD, Senior Researcher

Department of Spinal Neurosurgery

Vadim Verbov, Romodanov Neurosurgery Institute of National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine

PhD, Neurosurgeon

Restorative Neurosurgery Department

Ievgen Cheshuk, Romodanov Neurosurgery Institute of National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine

MD, Neurosurgeon

Restorative Neurosurgery Department

Mykhailo Karpinsky, Sytenko Institute of Spine and Joint Pathology of National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine

PhD, Senior Researcher

Laboratory of Biomechanics

Olexander Yaresko, Sytenko Institute of Spine and Joint Pathology of National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine

Junior Researcher

Laboratory of Biomechanics

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Published

2024-07-16

How to Cite

Nekhlopochyn, O., Verbov, V., Cheshuk, I., Karpinsky, M., & Yaresko, O. (2024). Assessment of biomechanical stability of the thoracolumbar junction with a burst fracture of Th12 following surgical stabilization under rotational loading. ScienceRise: Medical Science, (2(59), 36–43. https://doi.org/10.15587/2519-4798.2024.306367

Issue

No. 2(59) (2024)

Section

Medical Science

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Copyright (c) 2024 Oleksii Nekhlopochyn, Vadim Verbov, Ievgen Cheshuk, Mykhailo Karpinsky, Olexander Yaresko

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