2022, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (9): 1351-1356

Construction and verification of a full spine biomechanical model of adolescent scoliosis

Zhang Yufang1, Lü Meng1, Mei Zhao2   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: At this stage, the biomechanical model of scoliosis patients is too simplified. A complete finite element model of the patient’s trunk bone-muscle has not been established, and the modeling of the mechanical properties of soft tissue is lacking.  
OBJECTIVE: To establish a real finite element model of the scoliosis trunk with detailed anatomical structure and verify its effectiveness.
METHODS: A case of 11-year-old adolescent with scoliosis was selected. The original data in .DICOM format were obtained by 64 slice spiral CT scanning. The finite element model of the trunk was established and its effectiveness was verified. The simulation results of the lumbosacral segment model and the trunk model were compared and verified with the experimental results in the published articles. The implementation of the research scheme meets the relevant ethical requirements of Hebi People’s Hospital (hospital ethical approval No. YK2019015).  
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Model establishment: The finite element model of the whole trunk consisted of more than 8.47 million elements and 1.69 million nodes. (2) Validation of lumbosacral segment model: The average stiffness of the established model under flexion, extension, lateral flexion and torsion was 7.15, 2.56, and 1.92 N•m/(°), which was between the experimental results reported in the articles. Load results were consistent with the experimental values in the articles. (3) Verification of the trunk model: Under the action of the three band tensions (20, 40, and 60 N), the changes in the stress values of the spine were within the middle value of the experimental results reported in the articles. (4) One constructed adolescent scoliosis trunk biomechanical model with detailed anatomical structure, verified by the validity of the biomechanical model, is reliable, reasonable, true, and intuitive to display the complex bone and soft tissue structure of the human body.

Key words:adolescent scoliosis, anatomical structure, digital modeling, biomechanics, finite element analysis