Development of a virtual musculo-skeletal, multi-body scoliotic spine model

Abstract

Scoliosis is characterized by a lateral curvature of the spine accompanied by rotation of the vertebrae about its axis. This study aims to develop patient specific models to investigate the biomechanics of scoliotic patients. Models can be used by orthopaedic surgeons to study the dynamic behavior of the spine, the effect of different forces on the spine, and the potential changes of spine curvature resulting from long-term seating in chairs. The current study generates discretized musculo-skeletal multi-body scoliotic spine models using LifeMOD Biomechanics Modeler. Three hypothetical scoliosis models with three different Cobb angles of 38°±2, 52°±2 and 62°±2 were created. One normal subject with a healthy spine was built as a control model. In order to validate the model a horizontal force was applied onto vertebra T7 from posterior to anterior in the sagittal plane. After applying this force, the resultant axial and shear forces as well as the momentum about the lumbo-sacral (L5/S1) joint were calculated. The results were compared with other models and also with the normal model. Effect of asymmetry on the scoliotic spine was evident in the resultant forces and momentum.