Does oblique lumbar interbody fusion promote adjacent degeneration in degenerative disc disease: A finite element analysis. (January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Du, Cheng-Fei; Cai, Xin-Yi; Gui, Wu; Sun, Meng-Si; Liu, Zi-Xuan; Liu, Chun-Jie; Zhang, Chun-Qiu; Huang, Yun-Peng
• Is Part Of: Computers in biology and medicine. Volume 128(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-01
• Subjects: Lumbar spine -- Adjacent segment degeneration -- Oblique lumbar interbody fusion -- Finite element; OLIF Oblique lumbar interbody fusion -- ASD Adjacent segment degeneration -- FE Finite element -- ROM Range of motion -- IDP Intradiscal pressure -- FJF Facet joint force -- AMSA Average mises stress in annulus -- ATSA Average tresca stress in annulus -- AES Average endplate stress -- CT Computed tomographic -- RB Right bending -- LB Left bending -- RAR Right axial rotation -- LAR Left axial rotation -- L Left -- R Right -- Fle Flexion -- Ext Extension; Medicine -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Biology -- Data processing -- Periodicals; 610.285
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2020.104122
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0010-4825

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The number of oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) procedures has continued to rise over recent years. Adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) is a common complication following vertebral body fusion. Although the precise mechanism remains uncertain, ASD has gradually become more common in OLIF. Therefore, the present study analyzed the association between disc degeneration and OLIF to explore whether adjacent degeneration was promoted by OLIF in degenerative disc disease. Methods: A three-dimensional nonlinear finite element (FE) model of the L3-S1 lumbar spine was developed and validated. Three lumbar spine degeneration models with different degrees of degeneration (mild, moderate and severe) and a model of OLIF surgery were constructed at the L4-L5 level. When subjected to a follower compressive load (500 N), hybrid moment loading was applied to all models of the lumbar spine and the range of motion (ROM), intradiscal pressure (IDP), facet joint force (FJF), average mises stress in the annulus (AMSA), average tresca stress in the annulus (ATSA) and average endplate stress (AES) were measured. Results: Compared with the healthy lumbar spine model, the ROM, IDP, FJF, AMSA, ATSA and AES of the segments adjacent to the degenerated segment increased in each posture as the degree of disc degeneration increased. In different directions of motion, the ROM, IDP, FJF, AMSA, ATSA and AES in the OLIF model in the L3-L4 and L5-S1 segments were higher than those of the healthy model and each degenerated model. Compared with the healthy model, the largest relative increase in biomechanical parameters above (ROM, IDP, FJF, AMSA, ATSA or AES) was observed in the L3-L4 segment in the OLIF model, of 77.13%, 32.63%, 237.19%, 45.36%, 110.92% and 80.28%, respectively. In the L5-S1 segment the corresponding values were 68.88%, 36.12%, 147.24%, 46.00%, 45.88% and 51.29%, respectively. Conclusions: Both degenerated discs and OLIF surgery modified the pattern of motion and load distribution of adjacent segments (L3-L4 and L5-S1 segments). The increases in the biomechanical parameters of segments adjacent to the surgical segment in the OLIF model were more apparent than those of the degenerated models. In summary, OLIF risked accelerating the degeneration of segments adjacent to those of a surgical segment. Highlights: We combined disc degeneration with OLIF to explore their biomechanical relationships. Three more comprehensive models of lumbar spine degeneration were built. Disc degeneration was simulated by changing geometry and material property of disc. We systematically analyzed the biomechanical parameters related to disc degeneration.