Three-dimensional finite element modeling of a cervical vertebra: a new approach to investigating injury mechanism in the cervical spine

To study the mechanical behavior of the cervical spine under varied loading conditions, it is necessary to use models that accurately represent the geometry and material properties of the bony elements. The wide variation in material properties of vertebral bone necessitates the use of 3-D finite element (FE) modeling techniques with a high density of elements to predict bone stress. The authors have developed an FE model that can represent the complex geometry and nonhomogeneous material properties of vertebral bone and can be used for investigating cervical vertebral body stresses. As an illustrative case, they have modeled a cervical vertebra under axial compressive loading in order to examine the mechanism of cervical burst fractures.