Effect of intervertebral foramina formation on the biomechanics of lumbar spine under finite element simulation spinal endoscopy / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

【Objective】 To analyze the effect of different range and location of foramen formation on the biomechanics of lumbar spine by three-dimensional finite element analysis （D-FEA）. 【Methods】 A complete model of the lumbar spine （L5）， M0， was developed using the finite element method， and the models M1， M2， M3， M4 and M5 were obtained by sequentially simulating the apical， medial 1/4， 2/4， 3/4 and 4/4 graded resections of the left superior articular process of L5 under a lateral posterior approach with full spinal endoscopy. The displacements were recorded in six conditions： forward flexion， back extension， left and right lateral bending， and left and right lateral rotation. The results were compared between the resected models and the unresected group M0. 【Results】 The three-dimensional finite model of the L4-L5 segment developed in this experiment was valid. Compared with the unresected group M0， the differences in ROM were statistically significant for M1 under forward flexion load （all P<0.05）， M2 under forward flexion and back extension load （all P<0.05）， M3 and M4 under forward flexion， back extension and left and right lateral bending load （all P<0.05）. The differences were statistically significant for M3 and M4 under anterior flexion， posterior extension， left and right lateral flexion， and right rotation loads （all P<0.05）； and for M5 under anterior flexion， posterior extension， left and right lateral flexion and right rotation loads （all P<0.05）. Compared with M0 in the unresected group， the differences were statistically significant for M1 under anterior flexion loads （all P<0.05）， M2 under anterior flexion and left and right rotation loads （all P<0.05）. The differences were statistically significant for M3， M4 and M5 in forward flexion and extension， left and right lateral flexion， and left and right rotational loading （all P<0.05）. 【Conclusion】 In the process of foramen formation， removal of the tip or the medial quarter of the unilateral single segment of the upper articular process of the lumbar spine will affect the stability of the lumbar spine， and increase the maximum value of the stress of the intervertebral disc during the activities of the lumbar spine. Removal of one half or more will significantly damage the biomechanics of the lumbar spine. In order to avoid damaging the normal biomechanics of the lumbar spine， the upper articular process should be protected as much as possible during the whole spinal endoscopic foraminal reconstruction.