title: Sensitivity of lumbar spine loading to anatomical parameters.
abstract: Musculoskeletal simulations of lumbar spine loading rely on a geometrical representation of the anatomy. However, this data has an inherent inaccuracy. This study evaluates the influence of defined geometrical parameters on lumbar spine loading utilising five parametrised musculoskeletal lumbar spine models for four different postures. The influence of the dimensions of vertebral body, disc, posterior parts of the vertebrae as well as the curvature of the lumbar spine was studied. Additionally, simulations with combinations of selected parameters were conducted. Changes in L4/L5 resultant joint force were used as outcome variable. Variations of the vertebral body height, disc height, transverse process width and the curvature of the lumbar spine were the most influential. These parameters can be easily acquired from X-rays and should be used to morph a musculoskeletal lumbar spine model for subject-specific approaches with respect to bone geometry. Furthermore, the model was very sensitive to uncommon configurations and therefore, it is advised that stiffness properties of discs and ligaments should be individualised.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biomechanics, Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany; Regensburg Center of Biomedical Engineering, OTH and University Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Putzer
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Composite Technology, Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ehrlich
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.affiliation: Institute for Engineering Mechanics and Structural Mechanics, University of the Bundeswehr Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gebbeken
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biomechanics, Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany; Regensburg Center of Biomedical Engineering, OTH and University Regensburg, Germany. Electronic address: sebastian.dendorfer@oth-regensburg.de.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dendorfer
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000502:physiology*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000502:physiology*; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D011312:Pressure; D016474:Weight-Bearing
keywords: Lumbar spine; Musculoskeletal; Parameter study; Simulation; Vertebra