长、短节段椎弓根螺钉并骨水泥强化治疗骨质疏松性胸腰段椎体骨折的有限元分析

Comparison of the short-segment and long-segment cement-augmented pedicle screw fixation for osteoporotic thoracolumbar fracture: a finite element study

背景:椎弓根螺钉内固定联合骨水泥强化钉道是治疗严重骨质疏松性椎体骨折的有效方法,但其没有统一标准,其中固定节段的范围是临床争议的焦点之一。目的:建立骨质疏松性胸腰段椎体骨折后路长节段和短节段骨水泥强化椎弓根螺钉内固定的三维有限元模型,分析两组中相邻节段结构、骨折椎体及内固定装置等的生物力学特征。方法:选取1例排除明显退行性病变志愿者T9-L5节段进行CT扫描,获得Dicom格式CT图像,导入工程软件,建立有限元几何模型,模拟胸腰椎骨折、钉道强化长短节段固定模型,根据文献设置相关材料参数,对比分析两组的生物力学特征。结果与结论:①椎骨所受应力主要集中在椎体的四周及附件的小关节面;在前屈、后伸、左、右侧弯4个方向上,近端和远端相邻椎骨所受的最大应力,长节段均大于短节段;椎间盘的应力主要集中在外周的纤维环,在6个方向上,近端和远端相邻椎间盘所受的最大应力,短节段均大于长节段,但长节段相邻椎间盘受应力较大的区域大于短节段,因此长节段固定邻近节段发生退变的概率及相邻的椎体发生骨折的风险可能较高;②长节段组和短节段组骨折椎体均发生不同程度位移,左、右侧弯时发生位移最明显;在6个运动方向中,短节段组骨折椎体的位移和所受的最大应力均大于长节段组,因此长节段固定可较好地维持骨折椎的稳定性;③内固定装置所受的应力主要集中在两端的螺钉及杆的局部,长节段组固定装置所受的最大应力均大于短节段组,但两端螺钉的主要应力区域则较短节段组减少。

BACKGROUND: Pedicle screw fixation combined with cement-augmented is an effective method for the treatment of severe osteoporotic vertebral fractures, but there is no uniform standard. The range of fixed segments is one of the focuses of clinical controversy. OBJECTIVE: To establish a three-dimensional finite element model of the short-segment and long-segment cement-augmented pedicle screw fixation for osteoporotic thoracolumbar fracture, and to analyze the biomechanical characteristics of adjacent segment structures, fractured vertebral bodies and internal fixation devices. METHODS: The T9-L5 segment of a volunteer without obvious degenerative disease was selected for CT scan. The CT images of Dicom format were obtained, and the engineering software was imported to establish a finite element geometric model to simulate the thoracolumbar fracture and the short-segment and long-segment cement-augmented pedicle screw fixation models. The relevant material parameters were set and the biomechanical characteristics of the two groups were compared and analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) The stress on the vertebrae was mainly concentrated on the periphery of the vertebral body and the small facet of the attachment. In the four directions flexion, extension, left-sided and right-sided curvature, the maximum stress of the proximal and distal adjacent vertebrae in the long-segment group was greater than that in the short-segment group. The stress of the intervertebral disc was mainly concentrated in the peripheral annulus. The maximum stress of the proximal and distal adjacent intervertebral discs was greater in the short-segment than in the long-segment, but the high stress area of the long-segment was larger than that of the short-segment. Therefore, long-segment fixation might accelerate the degeneration of adjacent segments.(2) The vertebral bodies of the long-segment group and the short-segment group were displaced to different extents, and the displacements in the left and right directions were the most obvious. In the six movement directions, the displacement and maximum stress of the injured segment of the short-segment group were greater than those of the long-segment group. So the long-segment fixation could better maintain the stability of the fractured vertebra.(3) The stress on the internal fixing device was mainly concentrated on the screws at both ends and the part of the rod. The maximum stress of the long-segment group was greater than that of the short-segment group, but the main stress area of the screws at both ends was smaller compared with the short-segment group.