Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (3): 553-560.doi: 10.12307/2025.870

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Finite element analysis comparing lumbar fusion and artificial intervertebral disc replacement

Zhao Jingang, Liu Liping, Chen Jianwei   

  1. 1School of Artificial Intelligence, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, Hebei Province, China; 2School of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Shanghai Electronic Information Vocational and Technical College, Shanghai 201411, China; 3Department of Orthopedics, Baoshan Branch of Renji Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200044, China; 4Department of Orthopedics, Spine Surgery, Renji Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China
  • Received:2024-10-22 Accepted:2025-01-06 Online:2026-01-28 Published:2025-07-03
  • Contact: Liu Liping, MD, Professor, School of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Shanghai Electronic Information Vocational and Technical College, Shanghai 201411, China
  • About author:Zhao Jingang, Master candidate, School of Artificial Intelligence, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, Hebei Province, China

PDF

9

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Lumbar degenerative disease is a disease of the musculoskeletal system that primarily affects the intervertebral structures, and the disease is treated with lumbar fusion and disc replacement.
OBJECTIVE: To conduct comparative analysis of the differences between lumbar fusion, mechanical lumbar disc prosthesis replacement, and viscoelastic lumbar disc prosthesis replacement.
METHODS: The computerized tomography images of a healthy adult were used to construct a finite element model of the L2-L5 normal lumbar spine with Mimic, Geomagic, and Ansys software. The equipment required for lumbar fusion and lumbar spine replacement was constructed using modeling software, and the L3-L4 segment of the lumbar spine was processed according to the surgical requirements for lumbar fusion and intervertebral disc replacement, creating the corresponding finite element model. Specific boundary conditions were applied to extract the mobility of each lumbar spine segment, the stresses on the neighboring intervertebral discs, and the stresses on the prosthesis lining.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Compared with the preoperative period, the maximum stress in the upper neighboring discs increased by 64.09% and 39.79% in the forward flexion and lateral bending states if the original mobility was maintained after lumbar fusion surgery. The maximum stress in the lower neighboring discs increased by 24.39% and 20.98% in forward flexion and lateral bending. This suggested that the upper adjacent discs would suffer greater stress changes than the lower adjacent discs during heavy physical labor. (2) Disc replacement did not show significant changes in adjacent disc stress, with mechanical prosthesis replacement slightly reducing adjacent disc stress, while viscoelastic prosthesis replacement was more in line with the biological properties of the disc, with maximum adjacent disc stress similar to that of the preoperative period. (3) In terms of stability, the mechanical prosthesis replacement segment showed a 51.67% increase in range of motion in the lateral bending state and a 53.27% increase in range of motion in the posterior extension state, whereas the viscoelastic prosthesis was better able to maintain mobility in the replacement segment. (4) In addition, the stresses in the liner of the mechanical prosthesis were mainly concentrated in the edge region, and this stress distribution may lead to edge wear and thus affect the service life of the prosthesis.

Key words: lumbar fusion, lumbar disc replacement, artificial disc, adjacent disk, finite element analysis, biomechanics

CLC Number: