Abstract:
This study developed and validated three-dimensional finite element models of human thoracolumbar vertebrae using quantitative computed tomography (QCT) scans to predict biomechanical properties. The researchers addressed the challenge of modeling the vertebral shell by treating its properties as parametric variables and calibrating them against experimental data from cadaveric specimens. This novel approach, which used a mean effective shell modulus of 457 MPa with a constant thickness of 0.35 mm, resulted in models that accurately predicted both the stiffness (r2 = 0.81) and strength (r2 = 0.79) of the vertebral bodies. The findings suggest that this modeling technique can provide significant insights into vertebral biomechanics, potentially improving clinical assessments of fracture risk.
