Frontiers of Mechanical Engineering >
Analysis of spinal lumbar interbody fusion cage subsidence using Taguchi method, finite element analysis, and artificial neural network
Received date: 10 May 2012
Accepted date: 05 Jul 2012
Published date: 05 Sep 2012
Copyright
Subsidence, when implant penetration induces failure of the vertebral body, occurs commonly after spinal reconstruction. Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) cages may subside into the vertebral body and lead to kyphotic deformity. No previous studies have utilized an artificial neural network (ANN) for the design of a spinal interbody fusion cage. In this study, the neural network was applied after initiation from a Taguchi L18 orthogonal design array. Three-dimensional finite element analysis (FEA) was performed to address the resistance to subsidence based on the design changes of the material and cage contact region, including design of the ridges and size of the graft area. The calculated subsidence is derived from the ANN objective function which is defined as the resulting maximum von Mises stress (VMS) on the surface of a simulated bone body after axial compressive loading. The ANN was found to have minimized the bone surface VMS, thereby optimizing the ALIF cage given the design space. Therefore, the Taguchi-FEA-ANN approach can serve as an effective procedure for designing a spinal fusion cage and improving the biomechanical properties.
Christopher John NASSAU , N. Scott LITOFSKY , Yuyi LIN . Analysis of spinal lumbar interbody fusion cage subsidence using Taguchi method, finite element analysis, and artificial neural network[J]. Frontiers of Mechanical Engineering, 2012 , 7(3) : 247 -255 . DOI: 10.1007/s11465-012-0335-2
1 |
Bagby G W. Arthrodesis by the distraction-compression method using a stainless steel implant. Orthopedics, 1988, 11(6): 931– 934
|
2 |
Cain C M, Schleicher P, Gerlach R, Pflugmacher R, Scholz M, Kandziora F. A new stand-alone anterior lumbar interbody fusion device: biomechanical comparison with established fixation techniques. Spine, 2005, 30(23): 2631–2636
|
3 |
Dietl R H J, Krammer M, Kettler A, Wilke H J, Claes L, Lumenta C B. Pullout test with three lumbar interbody fusion cages. Spine, 2002, 27(10): 1029–1036
|
4 |
McAfee P C. Interbody fusion cages in reconstructive operations on the spine. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. American Volume, 1999, 81(6): 859–880
|
5 |
Engels T A, Söntjens S H, Smit T H, Govaert L E. Time-dependent failure of amorphous polylactides in static loading conditions. Journal of Materials Science. Materials in Medicine, 2010, 21(1): 89–97
|
6 |
Kandziora F, Pflugmacher R, Scholz M, Eindorf T, Schnake K J, Haas N P. Bioabsorbable interbody cages in a sheep cervical spine fusion model. Spine, 2004, 29(17): 1845–1856
|
7 |
Smit T H, Engels T A, Wuisman P I, Govaert L E. Time-dependent mechanical strength of 70/30 Poly(L, DL-lactide): shedding light on the premature failure of degradable spinal cages. Spine, 2008, 33(1): 14–18
|
8 |
Hackenberg L, Halm H, Bullmann V, Vieth V, Schneider M, Liljenqvist U. Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion: A safe technique with satisfactory three to five year results. European Spine Journal, 2005, 14(6): 551–558
|
9 |
Adam C, Pearcy M, McCombe P. Stress analysis of interbody fusion—Finite element modelling of intervertebral implant and vertebral body. Clinical Biomechanics (Bristol, Avon), 2003, 18(4): 265–272
|
10 |
Jost B, Cripton P A, Lund T, Oxland T R, Lippuner K, Jaeger P, Nolte L P. Compressive strength of interbody cages in the lumbar spine: the effect of cage shape, posterior instrumentation and bone density. European Spine Journal, 1998, 7(2): 132–141
|
11 |
Kim Y. Prediction of mechanical behaviors at interfaces between bone and two interbody cages of lumbar spine segments. Spine, 2001, 26(13): 1437–1442
|
12 |
Lim T H, Kwon H, Jeon C H, Kim J G, Sokolowski M, Natarajan R, An H S, Andersson G B. Effect of endplate conditions and bone mineral density on the compressive strength of the graft-endplate interface in anterior cervical spine fusion. Spine, 2001, 26(8): 951–956
|
13 |
Steffen T, Tsantrizos A, Aebi M. Effect of implant design and endplate preparation on the compressive strength of interbody fusion constructs. Spine, 2000, 25(9): 1077–1084
|
14 |
Steffen T, Tsantrizos A, Fruth I, Aebi M. Cages: Designs and concepts. European Spine Journal, 2000, 9(Suppl 1): S89–S94
|
15 |
Pearcy M J, Evans J H, O’Brien J P. The load bearing capacity of vertebral cancellous bone in interbody fusion of the lumbar spine. Engineering in Medicine, 1983, 12(4): 183–184
|
16 |
Zander T, Rohlmann A, Klöckner C, Bergmann G. Effect of bone graft characteristics on the mechanical behavior of the lumbar spine. Journal of Biomechanics, 2002, 35(4): 491–497
|
17 |
Belytschko T B, Andriacchi T P, Schultz A B, Galante J O. Analog studies of forces in the human spine: computational techniques. Journal of Biomechanics, 1973, 6(4): 361–371
|
18 |
Belytschko T, Kulak R F, Schultz A B, Galante J O. Finite element stress analysis of an intervertebral disc. Journal of Biomechanics, 1974, 7(3): 277–285
|
19 |
Kuslich S D, Ulstrom C L, Michael C J. The tissue origin of low back pain and sciatica: A report of pain response to tissue stimulation during operations on the lumbar spine using local anesthesia. Orthopedic Clinics of North America, 1991, 22(2): 181–187
|
20 |
Linde F. Elastic and viscoelastic properties of trabecular bone by a compression testing approach. Danish Medical Bulletin, 1994, 41(2): 119–138
|
21 |
Mizrahi J, Silva M J, Keaveny T M, Edwards W T, Hayes W C. Finite-element stress analysis of the normal and osteoporotic lumbar vertebral body. Spine, 1993, 18(Suppl 14): 2088–2096
|
22 |
Fowlkes W Y, Creveling C M. Engineering methods for robust production design using Taguchi method in technology and product development. Reading: Addison-Wesley Longman, 1995
|
23 |
Rao R S, Kumar C G, Prakasham R S, Hobbs P J. The Taguchi methodology as a statistical tool for biotechnological applications: a critical appraisal. Biotechnology Journal, 2008, 3(4): 510–523
|
24 |
Dar F H, Meakin J R, Aspden R M. Statistical methods in finite element analysis. Journal of Biomechanics, 2002, 35(9): 1155–1161
|
25 |
Chao C K, Hsu C C, Wang J L, Lin J. Increasing bending strength of tibial locking screws: Mechanical tests and finite element analyses. Clinical Biomechanics (Bristol, Avon), 2007, 22(1): 59–66
|
26 |
Chao C K, Lin J, Putra S T, Hsu C C. A neurogenetic approach to a multiobjective design optimization of spinal pedicle screws. Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, 2010, 132(9): 091006
|
27 |
Chen L H, Tai C L, Lee D M, Lai P L, Lee Y C, Niu C C, Chen W J. Pullout strength of pedicle screws with cement augmentation in severe osteoporosis: a comparative study between cannulated screws with cement injection and solid screws with cement pre-filling. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 2011, 12(1): 33
|
28 |
Hou S M, Hsu C C, Wang J L, Chao C K, Lin J. Mechanical tests and finite element models for bone holding power of tibial locking screws. Clinical Biomechanics (Bristol, Avon), 2004, 19(7): 738–745
|
29 |
Hsu C C, Chao C K, Wang J L, Lin J. Multiobjective optimization of tibial locking screw design using a genetic algorithm: Evaluation of mechanical performance. Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 2006, 24(5): 908–916
|
30 |
Hsu C C, Lin J, Chao C K. Comparison of multiple linear regression and artificial neural network in developing the objective functions of the orthopaedic screws. Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine, 2011, 104(3): 341–348
|
31 |
Hsu W H, Chao C K, Hsu H C, Lin J, Hsu C C. Parametric study on the interface pullout strength of the vertebral body replacement cage using FEM-based Taguchi methods. Medical Engineering & Physics, 2009, 31(3): 287–294
|
32 |
Hsu W H, Hsu C C, Chao C K, Tsai Y H, Hsu H C. Analysis of the compressive strength and subsidence of a vertebral body cage with Taguchi methods. Journal of the Chinese Institute of Engineers, 2010, 33(4): 541–550
|
33 |
Lin C L, Yu J H, Liu H L, Lin C H, Lin Y S. Evaluation of contributions of orthodontic mini-screw design factors based on FE analysis and the Taguchi method. Clinical Biomechanics (Bristol, Avon), 2010, 43(11): 2174–2181
|
34 |
Yang K, Teo E C, Fuss F K. Application of Taguchi method in optimization of cervical ring cage. Journal of Biomechanics, 2007, 40(14): 3251–3256
|
35 |
Mitchell T M, Carbonell T J, Michalski R S, eds. Machine Learning: A Guide to Current Research. Norwell: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1986
|
36 |
Cybenko G. Approximation by superpositions of a sigmoidal function. Mathematics of Control, Signals, and Systems, 1989, 2(4): 303–314
|
/
〈 |
|
〉 |