Spinal stability is controlled by two inter-related systems: the spinal column including ligaments and the muscular control system. Instability results when single or multiple components fail or malfunction in either of the two systems. Paraspinal mus...
Spinal stability is controlled by two inter-related systems: the spinal column including ligaments and the muscular control system. Instability results when single or multiple components fail or malfunction in either of the two systems. Paraspinal muscles not only produce moment balance but also generate compression on the spinal column. Paraspinal muscle activities were calculated based on a hypothesis in this study. In this hypothesis, the intervertebral disc was assumed to have a transducer function and the muscle is activated according to a sensor driven control mechanism to maintain the stability of the spine.
This study was executed a three-dimensional finite element model of musculoskeletal system, which consisted of a detailed whole lumbar spine, the trunk and pelvis modelled as a rigid body, and paraspinal muscles. Finite element method combined with the optimization method was used to obtain the response in the spine and muscle activity. The muscle model consisted of a connector element was developed and a local coordinate was assigned between the origin and insertion points to maintain its direction regardless of the motion change in the skeletal model. Minimization of the deviation of hydrostatic pressures in the ground matrix of the outermost layer of the annulus in each disc was used for muscle force calculations. Effect of abdominal muscle and abdominal pressure was replaced with tensioning of thoracolumbar fascia. Muscle forces were calculated in isometric forward flexed (20°, 40°, and 60°) and erect standing postures. To identify the effect of fusion on the pattern change in the muscle activities, three different fusion models (fusion at L4-L5, L3-L5, or L4-S1 level) were further developed at the 60° flexed posture. Parametric analysis in the fascial tension force (zero, half, base, and two-fold) was also performed for a 60º flexed posture. The base fascial tension level of TLF was assumed using physiological cross-sectional area of muscles that attached to the TLF and its activation level. The calculated results show that all muscles were properly combined to maintain the posture and stabilize the lumbar spine. The activity of each muscle group maintained the trunk posture while reducing the stress difference in the disc. The activities of erector spinae pars lumborum and multifidus markedly increased according to the increase of flexed angle until 40° flexed posture whereas it was maintained at 60° flexed posture similar to the muscle activity at 40° flexed posture. A reverse change was detected rectus abdominis. The fascial tension induced a decrease in the erector spinae pas thoracis activity. It was decreased to 94.0 N, 90.9 N, and 74.8 N according to the magnitude of half, one, and two-fold base fascial tension from 103.3 N of zero fascial tension, respectively. The spinal fusion decreased total motion at the lumbar spine and additional pelvic tilting was produced to maintain the trunk angle. Compared with intact case, fusion generated the reduction in the erector spinae and multifidus. The nucleus pressure and segmental motion increased at the adjacent segments.
The proposed method in this study allowed for the inter-relation of realistic muscle activity and the spinal motion. Further study of its influence in spine stability will lead to a better understanding of how spine stability is maintained under several different loading conditions including surgery and instrumentation.