• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.21 no.3 s.61
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• pp.295-301
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• 2000

It is known that among many factors, relative micromotion at bone/implant interfaces can hinder bone ingrowth into surface pores of an implant. Loading conditions, mechanical properties of spinal materials, friction coefficients at the interfaces and geometry of spinal segments would affect the relative micromotion and spinal stability. A finite clement model of the human lumbar spine segments (L4-L5) was constructed to investigate the mechanical sensitivity at the interfaces between bone and cage. Relative micromotion. Posterior axial displacement. bone stress, cage stress and friction force were predicted in changes of friction coefficients, loading conditions. bone density and age-related material/geometric properties of the spinal segments. Relative micromotion (slip distance in a static loading means relative micromotion in routine activity) at the interfaces increased significantly as the mechanical properties of cancellous bone, annulus fibers or/and ligaments decrease or/and as the friction coefficient at the interfaces decreases. The contact normal force at the interfaces decreased as cancellous bone density decreases or/and as the friction coefficient increases A significant increase of slip distance at anterior annulus occurred with an addition of torsion to compressive preload. Relative micromotion decreased with an increase of disc area. In conclusion. relative micromotion, stress response. Posterior axial displacement and contact normal force are sensitive to the friction coefficient of the interfaces, bone density, loading conditions and age-related geometric/material changes.