Journal article
Sheep cervical spine biomechanics: a finite element study
The Iowa orthopaedic journal, Vol.34, pp.137-143
2014
PMCID: PMC4127727
PMID: 25328473
Appears in Diamond Open Access
Abstract
Animal models are often used to make the transition from scientific concepts to clinical applications. The sheep model has emerged as an important model in spine biomechanics. Although there are several experimental biomechanical studies of the sheep cervical spine, only a limited number of computational models have been developed. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop and validate a C2-C7 sheep cervical spine finite element (FE) model to study the biomechanics of the normal sheep cervical spine.
The model was based on anatomy defined using medical images and included nonlinear material properties to capture the high flexibility and large neutral zone of the sheep cervical spine. The model was validated using comprehensive experimental flexibility testing. Ten adult sheep cervical spines, from C2-C7, were used to experimentally ascertain overall and segmental flexibility to ±2 Nm in flexion-extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation.
The ranges of motion predicted by the computational model were within one standard deviation of the respective experimental motions throughout the load cycle, with the exception of extension and lateral bending. The model over- and under predicted the peak motions in extension and lateral bending, respectively. Nevertheless, the model closely represents the range of motion and flexibility of the sheep cervical spine.
This is the first multilevel model of the sheep cervical spine. The validated model affords additional biomechanical insight into the intact sheep cervical spine that cannot be easily determined experimentally. The model can be used to study various surgical techniques, instrumentation, and device placement, providing researchers and clinicians insight that is difficult, if not impossible, to gain experimentally.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Sheep cervical spine biomechanics: a finite element study
- Creators
- Nicole A DeVries Watson - University of IowaAnup A Gandhi - University of IowaDoug C Fredericks - University of IowaJoseph D Smucker - University of IowaNicole M Grosland - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The Iowa orthopaedic journal, Vol.34, pp.137-143
- PMID
- 25328473
- PMCID
- PMC4127727
- NLM abbreviation
- Iowa Orthop J
- ISSN
- 1541-5457
- eISSN
- 1555-1377
- Publisher
- Dept. of Orthopaedics, The University of Iowa; United States
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2014
- Academic Unit
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Iowa Technology Institute; Orthopedics and Rehabilitation; Craniofacial Anomalies Research Center; Injury Prevention Research Center
- Record Identifier
- 9984185364202771
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