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Load sharing between the shell and centrum in the lumbar vertebral body
M J Silva1, T M Keaveny, W C Hayes
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Spine
|January 15, 1997
Summary
The vertebral shell contributes minimally to lumbar vertebral body strength. The trabecular centrum is the primary load-bearing component, carrying most compressive force in vivo.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Spinal Anatomy
- Finite Element Analysis
Background:
- Previous studies lack consensus on the structural role of the vertebral shell versus the centrum.
- Quantifying the shell's contribution to vertebral body strength remains debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relative load-bearing roles of the shell and centrum in the lumbar vertebral body.
- To clarify discrepancies in prior research regarding vertebral structural integrity.
Main Methods:
- Developed finite element models to simulate compressive force distribution in lumbar vertebrae.
- Conducted parametric analysis varying shell thickness, material properties, and loading conditions.
Main Results:
- The vertebral shell carries a small fraction of the total compressive force, increasing from the endplate to the mid-plane.
- Shell force fraction is highly sensitive to centrum anisotropy but not significantly affected by shell thickness or elastic modulus ratios.
Conclusions:
- Differences in methodology explain conflicting findings in previous research.
- The vertebral shell contributes approximately 10% to in vivo vertebral strength.
- The trabecular centrum is the dominant structural component of the lumbar vertebral body.