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ABSTRACT: Study design
A biomechanical study using finite element analysis.Objectives
The main objective of this study was to investigate the role of sacral slope in the progression of a L5 bilateral spondylolytic defect to spondylolisthesis.Methods
A 3-dimensional model of lumbosacral spine was built using computed tomography (CT) data procured from an anonymized healthy male subject. The segmented CT data was manipulated to generate 3 more models representing L5 bilateral spondylolytic defect with normal sacral slope (SS), sacral slope increased by 10° (SS+10), and sacral slope decreased by 10° (SS-10). The 3D models were imported into finite element modelling software Strand7 for preprocessing, running nonlinear static solves, and postprocessing of the results.Results
Directional biomechanical instabilities were induced in the lumbosacral spine as a result of changes in the L5-S1 disc shape secondary to the changes in sacral slope. Compared with the normal L5 lytic model, wedging of the L5-S1 disc (SS+10) resulted in a significantly greater range of motion in flexion (18% ?) but extension motion characteristics were similar. Conversely, flattening of the L5-S1 disc (SS-10) resulted in a significantly greater range of motion in extension (16% ?) but flexion motion characteristics were similar to that of the normal L5 lytic model.Conclusions
Variations in sacral slope while preserving the L5-S1 mid-disc height and orientation of the L5 vertebra resulted in variations in the L5-S1 disc shape. The results suggest that for such extremities in the L5-S1 disc shape different pathomechanisms exist for the progression of the L5 lytic defect to spondylolisthesis.
SUBMITTER: Ramakrishna VAS
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6149045 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Ramakrishna Vivek A S VAS Chamoli Uphar U Viglione Luke L LL Tsafnat Naomi N Diwan Ashish D AD
Global spine journal 20171116 5
<h4>Study design</h4>A biomechanical study using finite element analysis.<h4>Objectives</h4>The main objective of this study was to investigate the role of sacral slope in the progression of a L5 bilateral spondylolytic defect to spondylolisthesis.<h4>Methods</h4>A 3-dimensional model of lumbosacral spine was built using computed tomography (CT) data procured from an anonymized healthy male subject. The segmented CT data was manipulated to generate 3 more models representing L5 bilateral spondyl ...[more]