A computational dynamic finite element simulation of the thoracic vertebrae under blunt loading: spinal cord injury

Spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular bundle of nervous tissue located in the vertebral column. Since the spinal cord is one of the most crucial pathways for information connecting of the central nervous system, it has to stay safe under any blunt impact loading, i.e., accident, punch, gunshot, burst, etc. Therefore, it is important to investigate the possible injuries that may occur in the vertebral column, especially the spinal cord, as a result of blunt loading. However, due to various experimental limitations, numerical modelling, specifically finite element (FE) models, has been beneficial in predicting the injury to the spinal cord. This study, thus, aimed at predicting the stresses and deformations of a patient-specific FE model of the thoracic vertebral body, intervertebral disc, and spinal cord, which have been modelled according to the computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging data, under blunt impact at different angles of 0 degrees, 30 degrees, and 45 degrees. The model exhibited angle sensitive impact characteristics, and the stresses of the intervertebral disc and spinal cord significantly influenced the overall impact response in the simulated impact conditions. The highest amount of von Mises stresses in the vertebral body, intervertebral disc, and spinal cord was observed under the impact angle of 0 degrees with 58.47, 7.26, and 0.13MPa, respectively. The highest deformation in the spinal cord was 1.42mm under the impact angle of 0 degrees. The results of the this study have implications not only for understanding the stresses and deformations in the vertebral body, intervertebral disc, and spinal cord under the blunt loading, but also for providing a comprehensive information for the medical and biomechanical experts in regard to the role of the impact angle on the injury to the vertebral column.