Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2025, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (15): 3244-3252.doi: 10.12307/2025.178

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Application and development direction of finite element method in biomechanical analysis of thoracolumbar fractures of the spine

He Kai1, Xing Wenhua2, Li Feng2, Liu Shengxiang2, Bai Xianming2, Zhou Chen2, Gao Xu2, Qiao Yu3, He Qiang1, Gao Zhiyu1, Guo Zhen1, Bao Aruhan1, Li Chade1 #br#   

  1. 1Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010110, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China; ²Second Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010020, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China; ³Hohhot First Hospital, Hohhot 010030, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
  • Received:2024-03-21 Accepted:2024-05-14 Online:2025-05-28 Published:2024-11-06
  • Contact: Xing Wenhua, MD, Professor, Chief physician, Master’s supervisor, Second Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010020, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
  • About author:He Kai, Master candidate, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010110, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
  • Supported by:
    a grant from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Health Commission, No. 2023SGGZ092 (to XWH)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The highest incidence of spinal fracture is in the thoracolumbar segment, and its symptoms are back pain, posterior convexity deformity, activity limitation, or with spinal cord nerve injury causing lower limb pain, numbness, and even paraplegia and other complications. The finite element method is a digital computer modeling technique, which can simulate the physical model and carry out force analysis realistically.
OBJECTIVE: To review the application of finite element method in thoracolumbar spine fractures.
METHODS: We searched the Chinese and English literature databases PubMed, Web of Science, and CNKI for relevant literature on the application of the finite element analysis method in spinal thoracolumbar fracture published before March 2024. The search terms in Chinese and English were: finite element analysis methods, biomechanical phenomena, stress analysis, thoracolumbar fractures, spinal fractures. Finally, 55 papers were included.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The exploration of thoracolumbar fractures caused by different etiologies (osteoporotic, traumatic, and pathological) through the finite element method is conducive to a deeper understanding of the biomechanics of various types of thoracolumbar fractures, and to improve the individualized and fine-tuned treatment of thoracolumbar fractures. (2) The finite element analysis of a single sample or a small number of samples has the chance, and a larger number of samples are required for the future finite element analysis to reduce the chance caused by the sample. (3) The rigid structure of bones alone cannot meet the biomechanical working conditions of the integrity of the physical object, and future finite element models need to incorporate all the structures of the physical object (e.g., soft tissues, such as muscles and ligaments) as far as possible. (4) The finite element method has been used in more studies on osteoporotic and traumatic thoracolumbar spine fractures, which will need to be more in-depth in the future, and less in the field of pathologic thoracolumbar fractures, which has a wider scope for future research. 

中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点:人工关节;骨植入物;脊柱;骨折;内固定;数字化骨科;组织工程

Key words: spine fracture, thoracolumbar spine fracture, finite element analysis method, biomechanics, stress analysis, review

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