• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
• /
• v.33 no.7
• /
• pp.645-651
• /
• 2009

Previous studies have introduced the technique of spinous process osteotomy to decompress spinal stenosis, a procedure which aims to afford excellent visualization while minimizing destruction of tissues not directly involved in the pathologic process. However, biomechanically it has not been investigated whether the sacrifice of posterior spinous process might have potential risk of spinal instability or not, even though supra-spinous and inter-spinous ligaments are preserved. Therefore the aim of this study is to evaluate the biomechanical properties after spinous process osteotomy, using finite element analysis. The model of spinous process osteotomy exhibited no significant increase in disc stress or change in segmental range of motion. It is due to the fact that the instability of lumbar spine has been maintained by the two-types of ligaments compared with the prior surgical technique. Therefore, according to the finite element result on this study, this osotetomy was considered to be a clinically safe surgical procedure and could not cause the instability of the lumbar spine.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.137-144
• /
• 2008

The stand-off errors due to the different separations between the sonde and the borehole wall were measured and analyzed in 4 physical borehole models located in Kangwon National University having different densities with cylindrical and half cylindrical PVC and/or acrylic casings. The analysis of the stand-off error data based on the "spine and ribs" technique suggests a well defined rib line for each model irrespectively of the types and thicknesses of the casing, and that the gradients of the ribs are proportional to the densities of the models. By using these characteristics successful density correction could be made for the plastic casings in NX sized boreholes.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.71-76
• /
• 2004

In order to investigate the Post-operative changes in scoliotic spine according to selection of fusion level a mathematical finite element model of King-Moe type II scoliotics spine system was developed. By utilizing this finite element scoliosis model surgical correction simulation procedures of pedicle fixation and derotation were simulated. In consequence of the calculation by changing the fusion Levels, postoperative changes like Cobb angle, apical vertebrae axial rotation (AVAR), thoracic kyphosis, and rib hump were Qualitatively analyzed. In the analysis of operative kinematics, the decrease or Cobb angle was most prominent in distraction than in deroation. Applying the rod derotation only was not effective in decrease of Cobb angle but just caused increase of At AR and rib hump. From the operative simulation, co-action or distraction and translation during rod insertion has major impact on Cobb angle decrease and maintenance of kyphosis. With rod rotation, Cobb angle decrease was obtained, but combined increase of AVAR and rib hump was simulation observed as well. The case of most extended instrumentation range with 60o rod rotation produced double decrease of Cobb angle, but the increase of rib hump and AYAR occurred corresponding1y. The optimum selection of fusion level was proved as one level less than inflection position of the thoracic spine curvature.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.27-34
• /
• 2008

Background: This study was designed to analyze Repetitive dorsiflexion exercises in ankles have effects on the active range of flexion and extension motion through lumbar, cervical spine and ankle, wrist joints. Methods: 30 female college students in their twenties who frequently wear high heels participated the number of the experimental group was 15 persons and the number of the control group was 15 persons. They did exercise at the physical therapy room in M college, from the 8th of March to the 11th of April 2007. The experimental group had used the model of dorsiflexion repetitive exercise three times per week, for 4 weeks, but the control group did not exercise at all. In the sagittal plane active ROM of the these spine and joints were measured before and after the experiment using a digital goniometer. The results of two groups were compared and analyzed using paired T-test. Results: The active range of flexion and extension motion of the vertebra(especially lumbar flexion) and distal joints were significantly different in exercise group(p<.05). Conclusion: The model of repetitive dorsiflexion exercise of the ankle joint had positive effects on improving the active range of flexion and extension motion of the lumbar vertebra and distal joints of limbs. The results suggest that the repetitive dorsiflexion exercise is useful and also effective therapy for improving motion in women usually wearing high-heel.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.561-568
• /
• 2014

A modular fish-bone girder pier consists of one main girder system named as "Spine Girder". Therefore, this pier can be most affected by torsion as well as flexural bending. The design considerations of the fish-bone girder pier are proposed to assure the reasonable design in this study. In order to investigate the behavior characteristics, structural analysis F.E model is developed, and the verification of the developed model is performed by comparison with experimental data. From the investigation of the structural behavior, the vertical stiffener is required at the bottom of bone-beams to prevent the excessive local stress. Also, it is found that the normal stress of the flange and the shear stress of the web and flange are dominantly affected by the warping torsion and pure torsion, respectively.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.145-152
• /
• 2020

In this study, we evaluated spinal stability based on the change in the thoracolumbar fixation segment using finite element analysis (FEA). To accomplish this, a finite element (FE) model of a normal thoracolumbar spine (T10-L4), including intervertebral discs (IVD), ligaments, and facet joints, was constructed, and the material properties reported in previous studies were implemented. However, L1 was assumed as the lesion site, and three types of posterior fixation, namely, L1-L2, T12-L2, and T12-L1-L2, were implemented in the thoracolumbar FE model. In addition, the loading conditions for flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation were adopted. Through the series FEA, the deformation, equivalent stress, range of motion, and moment on the pedicle screws, vertebrae, and IVD were calculated, and the spinal stability was evaluated based on the FEA results.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.58 no.1
• /
• pp.43-49
• /
• 2015

Objective : $Dynesys^{(R)}$ is one of the pedicle-based dynamic lumbar stabilization systems and good clinical outcome has been reported. However, the cylindrical spacer between the heads of the screws undergoes deformation during assembly of the system. The pre-strain probably change the angle of instrumented spine with time and oblique-shaped spacer may reduce the pre-strain. We analyzed patients with single-level stabilization with $Dynesys^{(R)}$ and simulated oblique-shaped spacer with finite element (FE) model analysis. Methods : Consecutive 14 patients, who underwent surgery for single-level lumbar spinal stenosis and were followed-up more than 24 months (M : F=6 : 8; age, $58.7{\pm}8.0$ years), were analyzed. Lumbar lordosis and segmental angle at the index level were compared between preoperation and postoperative month 24. The von Mises stresses on the obliquely-cut spacer ($5^{\circ}$, $10^{\circ}$, $15^{\circ}$, $20^{\circ}$, $25^{\circ}$, and $30^{\circ}$) were calculated under the compressive force of 400 N and 10 Nm of moment with validated FE model of the L4-5 spinal motion segment with segmental angle of $16^{\circ}$. Results : Lumbar lordosis was not changed, while segmental angle was changed significantly from $-8.1{\pm}7.2^{\circ}$ to $-5.9{\pm}6.7^{\circ}$ (p<0.01) at postoperative month 24. The maximum von Mises stresses were markedly decreased with increased angle of the spacer up to $20^{\circ}$. The stress on the spacer was uneven with cylindrical spacer but it became even with the $15^{\circ}$ oblique spacer. Conclusion : The decreased segmental lordosis may be partially related to the pre-strain of Dynesys. Further clinical and biomechanical studies are required for relevant use of the system.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.143-150
• /
• 2019

Chronic neuropathic pain is one of the primary causes of disability subsequent to spinal cord injury. Patients experiencing neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury suffer from poor quality of life, so complementary therapy is seriously needed. Dehydrocorybulbine is an alkaloid extracted from Corydalis yanhusuo. It effectively alleviates neuropathic pain. In the present study, we explored the effect of dehydrocorybulbine on neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury and delineated its possible mechanism. Experiments were performed in rats to evaluate the contribution of dehydrocorybulbine to P2X4 signaling in the modulation of pain-related behaviors and the levels of pronociceptive interleukins and proteins after spinal cord injury. In a rat contusion injury model, we confirmed that chronic neuropathic pain is present on day 7 after spinal cord injury and P2X4R expression is exacerbated after spinal cord injury. We also found that administration of dehydrocorybulbine by tail vein injection relieved pain behaviors in rat contusion injury models without affecting motor functions. The elevation in the levels of pronociceptive interleukins ($IL-1{\beta}$, IL-18, MMP-9) after spinal cord injury was mitigated by dehydrocorybulbine. Dehydrocorybulbine significantly mitigated the upregulation of P2X4 receptor and reduced ATP-evoked intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration. Both P2XR and dopamine receptor2 agonists antagonized dehydrocorybulbine's antinociceptive effects. In conclusion, we propose that dehydrocorybulbine produces antinociceptive effects in spinal cord injury models by inhibiting P2X4R.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
• /
• 2012.05a
• /
• pp.741-742
• /
• 2012

• Korean Journal of Computational Design and Engineering
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.436-442
• /
• 2012

Traumatic loading during car accidents or sports activities can lead to cervical spinal cord injury. Experiments in spinal cord injury research are mainly carried out on rabbit or rat. Finite element models that include the rat cervical spinal cord and adjacent soft tissues should be developed for efficient studies of mechanisms of spinal cord injury. Images of a rat were obtained from high resolution MRI scanner. Polygonal surfaces were extracted structure by structure from the MRI data using the ITK-SNAP volume segmentation software. These surfaces were converted to Non-uniform Rational B-spline surfaces by the INUS Rapidform rapid prototyping software. Rapidform was also used to generate a thin shell surface model for the dura mater which sheathes the spinal cord. Altair's Hypermesh pre-processor was used to generate finite element meshes for each structure. These processes in this study can be utilized in modeling of other biomedical tissues and can be one of examples for reverse engineering on biomechanics.