Strain energy density used as the biomechanical signal for osteophyte growth in the cervical spine - biomed 2009.

Cervical spondylosis is a degenerative disease of the cervical spine that affects over 50% of the population older than 50 years. Spondylosis is a progressive disease where the intervertebral disc degenerates and bony growths called osteophytes form. Osteophyte growth has been identified by numerous investigators as an example of Wolff's law of bone remodeling acting on the abnormal strain energy density (SED) caused by the degenerating spine.

Validation of a finite element model of the young normal lower cervical spine.

A Finite Element Model (FEM) of the young adult human cervical spine has been developed as a first step in studying the process of spondylotic degeneration. The model was developed using normal geometry and material properties for the lower cervical spine. The model used a three-zone composite disc annulus to reflect the different material properties of the anterior, posterior, and lateral regions of the annulus.

Experimental flexion/extension data corridors for validation of finite element models of the young, normal cervical spine.

Finite element (FE) modeling is an important tool for studying the cervical spine in normal, injured and diseased conditions. To understand the role of mechanical changes on the spine as it goes from a normal to a diseased or injured state, experimental studies are needed to establish the external response of young, normal cervical spinal segments compared to injured or degenerated cervical spinal segments under physiologic loading. It is important to differentiate injured or degenerated specimens from young, normal specimens to provide accurate experimental results necessary for the validation of FE models.