An Investigation of the Mechanical Implications of Sacroplasty Using Finite Element Models Based on Tomographic Image Data

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dc.contributor.authorAnderson, Dennis E.en
dc.contributor.committeechairCotton, John R.en
dc.contributor.committeememberMadigan, Michael L.en
dc.contributor.committeememberGrant, John Wallaceen
dc.contributor.departmentEngineering Science and Mechanicsen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:34:34Zen
dc.date.adate2005-05-11en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:34:34Zen
dc.date.issued2005-04-25en
dc.date.rdate2005-05-11en
dc.date.sdate2005-04-29en
dc.description.abstractSacral insufficiency fractures are an under-diagnosed source of acute lower back pain. A polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement injection procedure called sacroplasty has recently been utilized as a treatment for sacral insufficiency fractures. It is believed that injection of cement reduces fracture micromotion, thus relieving pain. In this study, finite element models were used to examine the mechanical effects of sacroplasty. Finite element models were constructed from CT images of cadavers on which sacroplasties were performed. The images were used to create the mesh geometry, and to apply non-homogeneous material properties to the models. Models were created with homogeneous and non-homogeneous material properties, normal and osteoporotic bone, and with and without cement. The results indicate that the sacrum has a 3D multi-axial state of strain. While compressive strains were the largest, tensile and shear strains were significant as well. It was found that a homogeneous model can account for around 80% of the variation in strain seen in a non-homogeneous model. Thus, while homogeneous models provide a reasonable estimate of strains, non-homogeneous material properties have a significant effect in modeling bone. A reduction in bone density simulating osteoporosis increased strains nearly linearly, even with non-homogeneous material properties. Thus, the non-homogeneity was modeled similarly in both density cases. Cement in the sacrum reduced strains 40-60% locally around the cement. However, overall model stiffness only increased 1-4%. This indicates that the effects of sacroplasty are primarily local.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.identifier.otheretd-04292005-141126en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-04292005-141126/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/32025en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartDennisAndersonThesis.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectCT imagesen
dc.subjectbone cementen
dc.subjectfinite element modelingen
dc.subjectsacroplastyen
dc.titleAn Investigation of the Mechanical Implications of Sacroplasty Using Finite Element Models Based on Tomographic Image Dataen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineEngineering Science and Mechanicsen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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