@article{PutzerAuerMalpicaetal., author = {Putzer, Michael and Auer, Stefan and Malpica, William and S{\"u}ß, Franz and Dendorfer, Sebastian}, title = {A numerical study to determine the effect of ligament stiffness on kinematics of the lumbar spine during flexion}, series = {BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders}, volume = {17}, journal = {BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders}, number = {95}, doi = {10.1186/s12891-016-0942-x}, abstract = {Background There is a wide range of mechanical properties of spinal ligaments documented in literature. Due to the fact that ligaments contribute in stabilizing the spine by limiting excessive intersegmental motion, those properties are of particular interest for the implementation in musculoskeletal models. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of varying ligament stiffness on the kinematic behaviour of the lumbar spine. Methods A musculoskeletal model with a detailed lumbar spine was modified according to fluoroscopic recordings and corresponding data files of three different subjects. For flexion, inverse dynamics analysis with a variation of the ligament stiffness matrix were conducted. The influence of several degrees of ligament stiffness on the lumbar spine model were investigated by tracking ligament forces, disc forces and resulting moments generated by the ligaments. Additionally, the kinematics of the motion segments were evaluated. Results An increase of ligament stiffness resulted in an increase of ligament and disc forces, whereas the relative change of disc force increased at a higher rate at the L4/L5 level (19 \%) than at the L3/L4 (10 \%) level in a fully flexed posture. The same behaviour applied to measured moments with 67 \% and 45 \%. As a consequence, the motion deflected to the lower levels of the lumbar spine and the lower discs had to resist an increase in loading. Conclusions Higher values of ligament stiffness over all lumbar levels could lead to a shift of the loading and the motion between segments to the lower lumbar levels. This could lead to an increased risk for the lower lumbar parts.}, language = {en} } @article{PutzerEhrlichRasmussenetal., author = {Putzer, Michael and Ehrlich, Ingo and Rasmussen, John and Gebbeken, Norbert and Dendorfer, Sebastian}, title = {Sensitivity of lumbar spine loading to anatomical parameters}, series = {Journal of Biomechanics}, volume = {49}, journal = {Journal of Biomechanics}, number = {6}, publisher = {Elsevier Science}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbiomech.2015.11.003}, pages = {953 -- 958}, abstract = {Musculoskeletal simulations of lumbar spine loading rely on a geometrical representation of the anatomy. However, this data has an inherent inaccuracy. This study evaluates the influence of defined geometrical parameters on lumbar spine loading utilising five parametrised musculoskeletal lumbar spine models for four different postures. The influence of the dimensions of vertebral body, disc, posterior parts of the vertebrae as well as the curvature of the lumbar spine was studied. Additionally, simulations with combinations of selected parameters were conducted. Changes in L4/L5 resultant joint force were used as outcome variable. Variations of the vertebral body height, disc height, transverse process width and the curvature of the lumbar spine were the most influential. These parameters can be easily acquired from X-rays and should be used to morph a musculoskeletal lumbar spine model for subject-specific approaches with respect to bone geometry. Furthermore, the model was very sensitive to uncommon configurations and therefore, it is advised that stiffness properties of discs and ligaments should be individualised.}, subject = {Wirbels{\"a}ule}, language = {en} } @article{WongRasmussenSimonsenetal., author = {Wong, Christian and Rasmussen, John and Simonsen, Erik B. and Hansen, Lone and de Zee, Mark and Dendorfer, Sebastian}, title = {The Influence of Muscle Forces on the Stress Distribution in the Lumbar Spine}, series = {The Open Spine Journal}, volume = {3}, journal = {The Open Spine Journal}, number = {1}, doi = {10.2174/1876532701103010021}, pages = {21 -- 26}, abstract = {Introduction: Previous studies of bone stresses in the human lumbar spine have relied on simplified models when modeling the spinal musculature, even though muscle forces are likely major contributors to the stresses in the vertebral bones. Detailed musculoskeletal spine models have recently become available and show good correlation with experimental findings. A combined inverse dynamics and finite element analysis study was conducted in the lumbar spine to investigate the effects of muscle forces on a detailed musculoskeletal finite element model of the 4th lumbar vertebral body. Materials and Methodology: The muscle forces were computed with a detailed and validated inverse dynamics musculoskeletal spine model in a lifting situation, and were then applied to an orthotropic finite element model of the 4th lumbar vertebra. The results were compared with those from a simplified load case without muscles. Results: In general the von Mises stress was larger by 30\%, and even higher when looking at the von Mises stress distribution in the superio-anterior and central part of the vertebral body and in the pedicles. Conclusion: The application of spine muscles to a finite element model showed markedly larger von Mises stress responses in the central and anterior part of the vertebral body, which can be tolerated in the young and healthy spine, but it would increase the risk of compression fractures in the elderly, osteoporotic spine.}, subject = {Lendenwirbels{\"a}ule}, language = {en} }