ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: With the continuous development of finite element method in biomechanics of orthopedics, the study of spine-related diseases by finite element method has become the main research direction nowadays. Especially, the stress analysis of internal fixation of the spine, the mechanical effect of different internal fixation and the development of new internal fixation are the current hot spot. Spondylolysis is a common disease of the spine. Especially when anatomical bone defects occur, the pathological model and biomechanics of the spine after surgery have corresponding mechanical changes. OBJECTIVE: To review the method of establishing spondylolysis models, the verification of the models and the pplication of finite element models of spondylolysis in various fields, and to summarize the application prospect and value of finite element modeling in lumbar spondylolysis. METHODS: The first author used computer to search the PubMed database and China Journal Full-text Database from January 1998 to December 2016 for related articles. Key words were "finite element, lumbar spine, isthmus, model". A total of 123 related articles were retrieved and 53 articles met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) At present, finite element analysis of spondylolysis can well reflect the mechanical condition of internal bone. The finite element model of spondylolysis can be used to evaluate the structure and shape of lumbar spine (such as the defect isthmus), the material properties of different anatomical sites (lamina terminalis, cancellated bone and cortical bone) as well as the load of the spine under different exercise states. In particular, stress analysis of the internal structure of the vertebral body and the ancillary structures of the spine (such as disc and articular process) has obvious advantages. (2) In addition, the reconstruction data of the finite element model are derived from the original CT of the patient,and the simulation is high.Compared with the in vitro experiments,the finite element simulation of spondylolysis is reliable and can reduce the damage to the experimental subjects caused by external forces and radiation, and can effectively avoid medical ethics problem.