Biomechanics of the human intervertebral disc: a review of testing techniques and results
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Many experimental testing techniques have been adopted in order to provide an understanding of the biomechanics of the human intervertebral disc (IVD). The aim of this review article is to amalgamate results from these studies to provide readers with an overview of the studies conducted and their contribution to our current understanding of the biomechanics and function of the IVD. The overview is presented in a way that should prove useful to experimentalists and computational modellers. Mechanical properties of whole IVDs can be assessed conveniently by testing ‘motion segments’ comprising two vertebrae and the intervening IVD and ligaments. Neural arches should be removed if load-sharing between them and the disc is of no interest, and specimens containing more than two vertebrae are required to study ‘adjacent level’ effects. Mechanisms of injury (including endplate fracture and disc herniation) have been studied by applying complex loading at physiologically-relevant loading rates, whereas mechanical evaluations of surgical prostheses require slower application of standardised loading protocols. Results can be strongly influenced by the testing environment, preconditioning, loading rate, specimen age and degeneration, and spinal level. Component tissues of the disc (anulus fibrosus, nucleus pulposus, and cartilage endplates) have been studied to determine their material properties, but only the anulus has been thoroughly evaluated. Animal discs can be used as a model of human discs where uniform non-degenerate specimens are required, although differences in scale, age, and anatomy can lead to problems in interpretation.
Date Issued
2017-01-31
Date Acceptance
2017-01-23
Citation
Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 2017, 69, pp.420-434
ISSN
1751-6161
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
420
End Page
434
Journal / Book Title
Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
Volume
69
Copyright Statement
© 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/BY/4.0/).
Sponsor
The Royal British Legion
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Grant Number
Centre for Blast Injury Studie
EP/M022242/1
Subjects
Anulus fibrosus
Endplate
Intervertebral disc
Material properties
Mechanical testing
Nucleus pulposus
Biomedical Engineering
0903 Biomedical Engineering
0912 Materials Engineering
0913 Mechanical Engineering
Publication Status
Published