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Abstract
Idiopathic scoliosis is a three-dimensional deformation of the spine and rib cage generally appearing during the adolescent growth period. One possible treatment, the posterior surgical instrumentation and fusion of the spine, is a complex procedure with many parameters, such as the spinal segment to operate, the number and position of the hooks and screws, the shape of the rod, etc. Biomechanical modeling is a tool that can be used to determine the influence of these parameters. However, technical difficulties due to the large stiffness range of involved components and the large deformations associated with surgical maneuvers are encountered when using the finite elements method. Thus, the objective of this study is to adapt a kinetic modeling approach with flexible mechanisms, simulate the surgical maneuvers and compare it to equivalent finite element models. The biomechanical modeling only takes into account the maneuvers performed by the surgeon while the patient is lying on the operating table.
A kinetic model with flexible mechanisms was developed with rigid bodies for the vertebrae and instrumentation, mechanisms for the instrumentation connections to the spine and flexible elements to model the intervertebral structures. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)