Open AccessPathophysiology and Biomechanics of the Aging Spine
Author(s) -
Michael Papadakis,
George Sapkas,
E. Papadopoulos,
Pavlos Katonis
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the open orthopaedics journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1874-3250
DOI - 10.2174/1874325001105010335
Subject(s) - medicine , biomechanics , spine (molecular biology) , reduction (mathematics) , pathophysiology , degeneration (medical) , pathology , bioinformatics , anatomy , biology , geometry , mathematics
AGING OF THE SPINE IS CHARACTERIZED BY TWO PARALLEL BUT INDEPENDENT PROCESSES: the reduction of bone mineral density and the development of degenerative changes. The combination of degeneration and bone mass reduction contribute, to a different degree, to the development of a variety of lesions. This results in a number of painful and often debilitating disorders. The present review constitutes a synopsis of the pathophysiological processes that take place in the aging spine as well as of the consequences these changes have on the biomechanics of the spine. The authors hope to present a thorough yet brief overview of the process of aging of the human spine.