Effects of Spine Soft Tissue Stiffening on Biomechanics of Lumbar Spine: A FEA Study

Spine stiffening or also called Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a type of progressive arthritis that leads to a chronic inflammation affecting spinal column and sacroiliac joints (SI). Long-term inflammation of the spinal joints (called Spondylitis) leads to calcium deposits forming on the ligaments and around the intervertebral discs. Subsequent tissue inflammation resulted from deposition of calcium, causes the spine to stiffen and potential mobility loss. This may result in clinical sequelae such as long-term disability and in complete fusion of vertebral column (Ankylosis) in severe cases [1]. Current literature on AS and its effects on segmental biomechanics is not known. Hence, this study designed to investigate the biomechanical effects of spine stiffening through changing the stiffness of soft tissue (ligaments & discs) across lumbar spine using finite element (FE) analysis.