title: Biomechanics of the aging spine.
abstract: Experimental studies indicate age and degeneration affect spinal biomechanics. In vitro biomechanical experimentation is used to validate finite element cervical spine models. A high percentage of experimental studies have utilized older specimens. Computer models based on these experimental studies may not accurately represent the normal population. Younger full-column and C5-C6 motion segments were tested under pure sagittal plane moments. A review of literature was conducted, and results from previous studies were compared to present data to determine whether age was an influencing factor in spinal biomechanics. Findings indicate younger specimens under equivalent pure moment loading magnitudes underwent greater ranges of motion between 0.5 and 2.5 Nm. Based on these preliminary findings, validation of finite element modeling to ensure biofidelity should consider age as a factor that may affect biomechanics.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Board
authors.forename: Brian D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Stemper
authors.forename: Narayan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yoganandan
authors.forename: Frank A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Pintar
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shender
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paskoff
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000379:methods*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000502:physiology*; D019245:Compressive Strength / Q000502:physiology; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004548:Elasticity; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D008954:Models, Biological; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*