The role of the nucleus pulposus in neutral zone human lumbar intervertebral disc mechanics

Marco Cannella, Amy Arthur, Shanee Allen, Michael Keane, Abhijeet Joshi, Edward Vresilovic, Michele Marcolongo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

54 Scopus citations

Abstract

To study the effect of denucleation on the mechanical behavior of the human lumbar intervertebral disc through a 2mm incision, two groups of six human cadaver lumbar spinal units were tested in axial compression, axial rotation, lateral bending and flexion/extension after incremental steps of "partial" denucleation. Neutral zone, range of motion, stiffness, intradiscal pressure and energy dissipation were measured; the results showed that the contribution of the nucleus pulposus to the mechanical behavior of the intervertebral disc was more dominant through the neutral zone than at the farther limits of applied loads and moments.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2104-2111
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Biomechanics
Volume41
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 19 2008

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Biophysics
  • Rehabilitation
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

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