Simulation of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Using the Finite Element Method

Lumbar spine stenosis (LSS) is a narrowing of the spinal canal that results in pressure on the spinal nerves. This orthopedic disorder can cause severe pain and dysfunction. LSS is a common disabling problem amongst elderly people. In this paper, we developed a finite element model (FEM) to study the forces and the von Mises stress acting on the spine when people bend down. An artificial lumbar spine (L3) was generated from CT data by using the FEM, which is a powerful tool to study biomechanics. The proposed model is able to predict the effect of forces which apply to the lumbar spine. In addition, FEM allows us to investigate the tests into the lumbar spine instead of applying the tests to the real spine in humans. The proposed model is highly accurate and provides precise information about the lumbar spine (L3). We investigate the behavior of humans in daily life which effects to the lumbar spine in a normal person and a patient with LSS. The computational results revealed high displacement levels around the spinal canal and lower displacement levels in the spinal body when bending down. The total displacement of the axial load in a normal person was higher when compared with patients with LSS. Higher degree bends resulted in a lower total displacement when compared with lower degree bends, while the von Mises stress decreased as the bending degree increased.