The Effect of Cement Augmentation on the Load Transfer in an Osteoporotic Functional Spinal Unit

STUDY DESIGN: The effect of cement augmentation on an osteoporotic lumbar functional spinal unit was investigated using finite-element analysis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of cement augmentation on load transfer, stresses, and strains. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Osteoporosis is the most frequent skeletal disease of the elderly, leading to weakness of the bony structures. Cement injection into vertebral bodies has been used to treat osteoporotic compression fractures of the spine. The clinical results are encouraging. Experimental biomechanical studies showed significant increases in stiffness and strength of treated bodies. However, little is known about the consequences for the adjacent, nontreated levels. METHODS: Three-dimensional finite-element models of L2-L3 were developed and the material properties adapted to simulate osteoporosis. The influence of augmentation…