A biomechanical study of the scoliotic thoracolumbar spine

Scoliosis is a disease of the spine which leads to corkscrew curvature occurring due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The abnormal curve is generally observed during the growth spurt just before puberty. Scoliosis has been classified into three different forms namely idiopathic, congenital and neuromuscular. When no specific cause for spinal defect is identified, the deformity is called idiopathic scoliosis. The patient specific scan model falls in the category congenital scoliosis. Mild cases of scoliosis can be treated by physiological treatments. Severe cases of scoliosis may have vertebral twisting, vertebral fusion and semi developed vertebral deformation. Severe cases of scoliosis could lead to adjacent organ damage, especially the heart and lungs. Large number of patients experience various back problems rendering day to day activities and normal physiological motion difficult. In most of the cases, scoliosis needs multiple surgical corrections with various implant rods and screws attached to the vertebrae. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of upper body load on the scoliosis affected region located at the junction of thoracic and lumbar region of the spine before surgery. The CT scan of the model is segmented and meshed to conduct studies such as stress concentration analysis, strain analysis and deflection in the segments.