Automated Finite Element Modeling of the Lumbar Spine: A Biomechanical and Clinical Approach to Spinal Load...

Biomechanical analysis of the lumbar spine is vital for understanding load distribution and stress patterns under physiological conditions. Traditional finite element analysis (FEA) relies on time-consuming manual segmentation and meshing, leading to long runtimes and inconsistent accuracy. Automating this process improves efficiency and reproducibility. This study introduces an automated FEA methodology for lumbar spine biomechanics, integrating deep learning-based segmentation with computational modeling to streamline workflows from imaging to simulation.

Medical imaging data were segmented using deep learning frameworks for vertebrae and intervertebral discs. Segmented structures were transformed into optimized surface meshes via Laplacian smoothing and decimation. Using the Gibbon library and FEBio, FEA models incorporated cortical and cancellous bone, nucleus, annulus, cartilage, and ligaments. Ligament attachments used spherical coordinate-based segmentation; vertebral endplates were extracted via principal component analysis for cartilage modeling. Simulations assessed stress, strain, and displacement under axial rotation, extension, flexion, and lateral bending.

The automated pipeline cut model preparation time by 97.9%, from over 24 hours to 30 minutes and 49.48 seconds. Biomechanical responses aligned with experimental and traditional FEA data, showing high posterior element loads in extension and flexion, consistent ligament forces, and disc deformations. The approach enhanced reproducibility with minimal manual input.

This automated methodology provides an efficient, accurate framework for lumbar spine biomechanics, eliminating manual segmentation challenges. It supports clinical diagnostics, implant design, and rehabilitation, advancing computational and patient-specific spinal studies. Rapid simulations enhance implant optimization and early detection of degenerative spinal issues, improving personalized treatment and research.