Load sharing within a human thoracic vertebral body: an in vitro biomechanical study.
OBJECTIVE
The vertebral body is the major load bearing part of the vertebra and consists of a central trabecular core surrounded by a thin cortical shell. The aim of this in vitro biomechanical study is to determine the debated issue of load sharing in a vertebral body.


METHODS
A series of non-destructive compressive testing on excised human thoracic vertebral bodies were performed. The testing process consisted of a stepwise removal of the vertebrae's trabecular centrum and measurement of surface strains.


RESULTS
Load sharing of cortical shell of osteopenic vertebrae (48.1+/-7.6) was significantly higher than that of normal vertebrae (44.3+/-10.6). Load sharing of middle thoracic vertebrae (49.4+/-10.0) was significantly higher than that of lower thoracic vertebrae (42.4+/-8.5). According to general linear model analysis, test speed and load were not found to be effectual on load sharing with the exception that osteopenic vertebrae showed lower cortical load sharing under higher loads.


CONCLUSIONS
The cortical shell takes nearly 45% of physiological loads acting upon an isolated thoracic vertebra. Load sharing between cortical shell and trabecular centrum is significantly affected by spinal level and bone mineral density. The load borne by trabecular bone increases towards the lower spinal levels, and decreases by osteoporosis.
Kilinçer
Cumhur
C
Department of Neurosurgery, Trakya University Medical Faculty, Edirne, Turkey. ckilincer@trakya.edu.tr
Inceoğlu
Serkan
S
Sohn
Moon Jun
MJ
Ferrara
Lisa A
LA
Bakirci
Nadi
N
Benzel
Edward C
EC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019245:Compressive Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*