Effects of Fusion Device Designs on Spine Biomechanics: Computational Simulation for Smart Health Care

Lumbar degenerative disk disease can be treated with posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) surgery, which mainly applies a rigid fixation system and a solid metal cage. However, previous clinical studies have observed that adjacent segment degenerative (ASD) disease might occur after using those high-stiffness implants. This article uses finite element analysis to investigate the effects of various fixation devices on spine biomechanics. To evaluate each fusion device, 3D finite element models of the T10-S1 multilevel spine were developed. The results show that dynamic fixation can reduce the risk of the ASD problem and pedicle screw breakage compared with the rigid and semirigid fixations.