Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 2, 2025
Evaluation of Patients' Posture and Gait Profile After Lumbar Fusion Surgery by Video Rasterstereography and Treadmill Gait Analysis
Published on: March 23, 2019
Influence of Rib Cage on Static Characteristics of Scoliotic Spine
Liying Lin1, Shaowei Jia2, Hufei Yang3
1School of Medical Imaging, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300203, China.
Background:
Scoliosis is a three-dimensional (3D) deformity of the spine, which affects the patient's appearance and may lead to abnormal heart and lung function. The rib cage is a structure composed of ribs, sternum, and costal cartilage, which plays a vital role in stabilising the thoracolumbar spine. This study investigates the influence of the rib cage on the static characteristics of the scoliotic spine.
Methods:
Two types of 3D finite element (FE) models with or without rib cage (from T1 to S) were established and analysed based on computed tomography (CT) images, to determine the effects of the rib cage on the static characteristics of the scoliotic spine. The FE software, ABAQUS, was used to analyse the static behaviours of scoliotic spine models under a range of loading conditions, including left side bending, right side bending, front tilt, rear supine, and vertical compression. The changes in the von Mises stress (VMS) within the intervertebral discs of spine models with or without rib cage were studied and compared.
Results:
After including the rib cage, the maximum VMS at the stress concentrations of the normal and scoliotic spine effectively reduced. The VMS in normal intervertebral discs was gentler than that of scoliotic ones. However, the scoliotic spine was more likely to produce large stress concentration in the intervertebral discs of scoliotic segments.
Conclusions:
Under the common postures, intervertebral discs of scoliotic segments are more susceptible to generate stress concentrations compared with the normal spine. The rib cage could effectively keep the intervertebral discs of scoliotic segments from further injuries. These results are of great significance for the prevention and treatment of the scoliotic spine.
More Related Videos
04:19Minimally Invasive Treatment for Thoracolumbar Burst Fracture Using Sagittal Alignment Screws and A Trauma Reduction Device
Published on: November 8, 2024
08:08Cell-based Assay Protocol for the Prognostic Prediction of Idiopathic Scoliosis Using Cellular Dielectric Spectroscopy
Published on: October 16, 2013
Related Concept Videos
01:16Vertebral Column: Regions and Curvature
Regions of the Vertebral Column
In an adult, the spine is subdivided into five regions: the cervical, the thoracic, the lumbar, the sacral, and the coccygeal region. The spine initially develops as a series of 33 vertebrae; after 20 years of age, the nine bones in the sacral region, five sacral, and four coccygeal bones fuse to form...
01:20The Thoracic Cage: Ribs
Parts of a Typical Rib
A typical rib has a head, neck, and body. The posterior end of the rib is called the head, followed by a narrow neck. The head articulates primarily with the costal...
01:17The Thoracic Cage: Sternum
The sternum is the elongated bony structure on the anterior side of the thoracic cage. It consists of three parts: the manubrium, the body, and the xiphoid...
01:24Pressure Relationships in Thoracic Cavity
Breathing Mechanisms
Both intra-alveolar and intrapleural pressures rely on specific lung properties. The ability to breathe—allowing air to enter the lungs...
01:30General Structure of a Vertebra
01:17Structural Joints: Cartilaginous Joints
There are two types of cartilaginous joints:
Synchondrosis
A synchondrosis ("joined by cartilage") is a cartilaginous joint where bones are connected by hyaline cartilage. Synchondrosis may be temporary...