Biomechanical evaluation of percutaneous cement discoplasty by finite element analysis

Abstract Background Percutaneous cement discoplasty (PCD) is a minimally invasive treatment for degenerative lumbar spine disease, but the relationship between decompression effect on the nerve root and different doses of bone cement is uncertain. Purpose To investigate the indirect decompression effect of cement with different doses on nerve roots and the biomechanical changes on the spine during PCD using finite element analysis (FEA). Methods FEA was adapted to analyze the mechanical changes in the lumbar vertebrae before and after the application of PCD.CT scan images of adult males were utilized to establish a finite element model of the lumbar vertebral body using mimics and Pro/E software. The images were divided into four models: the normal model (normal, model N), the disc degeneration model (high, model H), the intervertebral disc injected with 3 mL of bone cement (model H1), and the intervertebral disc injected with 5 mL of bone cement (model H2). All models were analyzed using the ABAQUS6.14.2 software. The normal physiological movements were simulated, and the mechanical changes in the lumbar vertebrae were observed prior to and after the cement filling application. Results The stress of the nerve root in model H was the largest. The nerve root stress in the model H2 was the smallest during flexion, extension, left bending, right bending, left rotation, and right rotation at 90%, 44%, 25%, 56%, 56%, and 51% of the normal benchmark, respectively. After the injection of bone cement, the nerve root stress is reduced. The greater the amount of cement, the lesser the nerve root stress. The motion was reduced in models H, H1, and H2, and there were differences between models H1 and H2. Cartilage endplate stress was less in model H2 than in model H1. Conclusions The nerve root stress increased after degeneration and decreased after intervertebral height recovery through cement injection, resulting in a significant indirect decompression effect.The stress of the nerve root decreased with the increase in the amount of cement injection.