A Patient-Specific Approach to Assessment of Biomechanical Stability Following Percutaneous Vertebroplasty Using CT Images

In this paper, a biomechanical analysis method for percutaneous vertebroplasty has been presented. Integrating the anatomical structure from the spine CT images of a patient, a novel three-dimensional geometric model of lumbar functional spinal units (FSUs) has been built. Based on the geometric model, two kinds of three-dimensional finite element models (FEM) of L1-L2 segments for preoperative and postoperative vertebrae are created. A numerical calculation method on FEM for biomechanical analysis has been developed, while a boundary condition describing the relative L1-L2 displacement is imposed on the FEM to account for three-dimensional physiological states. The simulating calculation can reveal the stress and strain distribution and deformation of the preoperative and postoperative vertebrae. Our method attempts to provide new biomechanical evidence and a fresh perspective into how the procedure can be implemented more effectively toward the goal of preventing osteoporosis-related fractures. The FEM will provide a promising tool in clinical diagnosis and optimizing individual therapy in osteoporosis-related fractures. It is proved that the method is valid for the consistency of the patient´s clinical observation after vertebroplasty with the FEM results in our research.