A Finite Element Study of Osteoporosis in a Disc Degenerated Lumbar Spine Subject to Axial Compression

Disc degeneration leads to various spinal disorders like Spondylylosis, Stenosis and Osteophyte formation and Osteoporosis leads to Compression fracture of the vertebral body. Biomechanical investigation of stress changes in the lumbar spine caused by disc degeneration has been done using mathematical models and cadavaric studies (1). Osteoporosis has also been studied in a similar manner (2). However, very little is known of the combined effects of osteoporosis and disc degeneration in the lumbar spine and how it may affect the treatment planning. This paper presents our findings on the combined effect using detailed finite element model of L4-L5 segments.Copyright © 2002 by ASME