Three-dimensional finite element analysis of cervical spine biomechanical characteristics in a rat model of cervical vertigo

doi:10.12307/2026.126

Abstract

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Cervical vertigo is one of the common types of vertigo. Previous studies have mostly simulated cervical vertigo by establishing a rat model of cervical instability, but the specific biomechanical mechanisms leading to cervical vertigo remain unclear.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biomechanical characteristics of the cervical instability model in cervical vertigo rats and reveal its pathogenic mechanisms.
METHODS: Based on the three-dimensional CT data of the cervical spine from 8-week-old healthy rats, a normal three-dimensional geometric model of C2–C7 (including vertebrae, intervertebral discs, and ligaments) was constructed using Mimics software. The cervical vertigo model was created by removing the supraspinous ligament, interspinous ligament, and facet joint cartilage at C5–6. Ansys software was used to analyze the overall stress distribution, overall displacement of the cervical spine, and stress changes in the C5–6 intervertebral disc under various conditions such as loading, flexion, extension, rotation, and lateral bending.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Compared to the normal group, the cervical vertigo group exhibited increased maximum total displacement of the cervical spine across all loading conditions, with the largest increments observed during rotation (left rotation: +84%; right rotation: +233%). (2) Except for flexion, the cervical vertigo group showed elevated maximum stress in the cervical spine under all other conditions, peaking during rotation (left rotation: +102%; right rotation: +165%). (3) The C5–6 intervertebral disc stress in the cervical vertigo group was significantly higher than in the normal group under all conditions, with the most pronounced increases during rotation (left rotation: +312%; right rotation: +323%). (4) It is concluded that current cervical vertigo modeling method effectively reduces cervical stability, leading to abnormal stress concentration across the cervical spine, particularly at the C5–6 intervertebral disc during rotation. This study not only provides critical biomechanical evidence supporting the reliability of the rat cervical vertigo model but also elucidates the potential pathogenesis of “cervical instability–abnormal cervical stress concentration–cervical vertigo episodes.”

Key words: cervical vertigo, cervical instability, vertebral body, intervertebral disc, ligament, finite element analysis, biomechanics

CLC Number:

Liu Jiafu, Ren Ruxia, Liao Zhouwei, Zhou Xiali, Wu Yihong, Zhang Shaoqun. Three-dimensional finite element analysis of cervical spine biomechanical characteristics in a rat model of cervical vertigo[J]. Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research, 2026, 30(9): 2182-2190.

Figures/Tables 7

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