Role of computer simulation in spinal diagnostics.

Background. The complex calculational task undertaken in this study was to analyze the vertebral bodies in the human spine in terms of their material features and degenerative characteristics. Material and methods. The problems to be solved included testing the geometrical model of the motion segment on the basis of data received from computer tomography, evaluating certain constitutive parameters of cancellous bone on the basis of their correlation with radiological density, numerical modeling of the motion segment, and numerous other numerical analyses, especially testing of the intervertebral disc. Results and Conclusions. Numerical analyses conducted on data for particular patients enable evaluation of the state of the spine, which can be of great use in medical diagnosis and rehabilitation procedures, and ultimately surgical interventions.