Regional variations in the compressive properties of lumbar vertebral trabeculae:​ effects of disc degeneration

Keller, Tony S.; Hansson, Tommy H.; Abram, Adam C.; Spengler, Dan M.; Panjabi, Manohar M.

Affiliations

¹Orthopaedic Biomechanics Lab, VAMC, Nashville, Tennessee

²Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sahlgren Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden

³Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tenessee

⁴Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee

⁵Yale Medical School, New Haven, Connecticut

Abstract

The compressive mechanical properties of human lumbar vertebral trabeculae were examined on the basis of anatomic origin, bone density, and intervertebral disc properties. Trabecular bone compressive strength and stiffness increased with increasing bone density, the latter proportional to strength and stiffness to the one-half power. Regional variations within each segment were found, the most prevalent differences occurring in regions of bone overlying the disc nucleus in comparison with bone overlying the disc anulus. For normal discs, the ratio of strength of bone overlying the disc nucleus to bone overlying the disc anulus was 1.25, decreasing to 1.0 for moderately degenerated discs. These results suggest that an interdependency of trabecular bone properties and intervertebral disc properties may exist.

Links

DOI: 10.1097/00007632-198909000-00016

PubMed: 2781407

WoS: A1989AN97700015

History

Revised: 1989-02-21

Accepted: 1989-02-23

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