title: Injuries in adolescent spine exposed to compressive loads: an experimental cadaveric study.
abstract: In a cadaveric experiment, 16 functional spinal units (FSUs) obtained from 7 subjects with a mean age of 16.3 years were tested in compression to failure. The deformation rate was 5 mm/min. The bone mineral content (BMC) in the vertebrae was determined by using dual-photon absorptiometry (DPA). In 15 of the FSUs, traumatic changes were registered. Three different types of changes were seen. In nine vertebrae, there was a rupture in the cartilaginous end plate, in 12, a separation of the end plate from the vertebral body, and in three vertebrae, a compression fracture was registered. A close relation was found between BMC and the ultimate force (r2 = 0.63), the ultimate displacement (r2 = 0.73), and the energy absorption (r2 = 0.74). The weakest part of a spinal segment in this experimental situation is the growth plate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg University, Sweden.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lundin
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ekström
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hansson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Swärd
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000293:Adolescent; D015519:Bone Density; D002102:Cadaver; D019245:Compressive Strength; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology