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A validated finite element analysis of nerve root stress in degenerative lumbar scoliosis

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Abstract

Few studies have shown the relationship between the curve pattern and nerve root symptoms in degenerative lumbar scoliosis, and its mechanism remains unclear. We developed a finite element model of two patterns of scoliotic curves (isolated lateral bending curve, lateral bending combined with rotation curve). The stress on the nerve root was calculated on both sides (right and left) of the apex vertebra. In the lateral bending curves without rotation, the compressive nerve root stress on the concave side was greater than the tensile stress on the convex side at the apex vertebra. In contrast, when the segmental rotation of the vertebrae was added to the lateral bending curve, there was significantly higher tensile stress on the convex side, and lower compressive stress on the concave side. To conclude, rotatory listhesis may be an important pathomechanism in the development of neurologic symptoms on the convex side of the curve.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grant No. R01-2006-000-10933-0 from the Basic Research Program of the Korea Science & Engineering Foundation and by the Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Spine center, Kang-Nam Yonserang Hospital, Seoul, Korea

    Ho-Joong Kim

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea

    Heoung-Jae Chun, Kyoung-Tak Kang & Ju-Hyun Son

  3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 134 Shinchondong, Seodaemunku, Seoul, Korea

    Hwan-Mo Lee, Hak-Sun Kim, Eun-Su Moon, Jin-Oh Park, Bo-Hyun Hwang & Seong-Hwan Moon

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  1. Ho-Joong Kim
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  2. Heoung-Jae Chun
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  3. Kyoung-Tak Kang
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Correspondence to Seong-Hwan Moon.

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H.-J. Kim and H.-J. Chun contributed equally to this work.

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Kim, HJ., Chun, HJ., Kang, KT. et al. A validated finite element analysis of nerve root stress in degenerative lumbar scoliosis. Med Biol Eng Comput 47, 599–605 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-009-0463-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-009-0463-y

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