Journal of Spine

Loren L. Latta

Publications

• Research Article
  Implications of Decompressive Surgical Procedures for Lumbar Spine Stenosis on the Biomechanics of the Adjacent Segment: A Finite Element Analysis
  Author(s): Francesco Travascio, Shihab Asfour, Joseph Gjolaj, Loren L. Latta, Shady Elmasry and Frank EismontFrancesco Travascio, Shihab Asfour, Joseph Gjolaj, Loren L. Latta, Shady Elmasry and Frank Eismont
  
  Surgeries for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (LSS) aim at decompressing spinal nerves and relieving symptoms of radiculopathy or myelopathy. Frequently after surgery, stenosis may progress in adjacent spinal segments, but the etiology of adjacent segment degeneration is still unclear. It is hypothesized that surgical approaches for LSS may alter the normal biomechanics of adjacent segments, eventually contributing to the development of stenosis. This study investigated implications of established decompressive surgical approaches on adjacent segments biomechanics. A realistic finite element model of a L1-L5 human lumbar spine was used for assessing changes in spine segments’ biomechanics due to laminotomy and laminectomy surgeries. First, the model was validated by comparing its predictions to previously reported spine kinematic data obtained after multi-level laminotomy and laminectomy.. Read More»
  DOI: 10.4172/2165-7939.1000220

  Abstract PDF