Mechanical response of human thoracic spine ligaments under quasi-static loading: An experimental study

Radosław Wolny; Tomasz Wiczenbach; Angela Jadwiga Andrzejewska-Sroka; Jan Henryk Spodnik

doi:10.1016/j.jmbbm.2024.106404

Mechanical response of human thoracic spine ligaments under quasi-static loading: An experimental study

Abstract

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the geometrical and mechanical properties of human thoracic spine ligaments subjected to uniaxial quasi-static tensile test. Methods Four human thoracic spines, obtained through a body donation program, were utilized for the study. The anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL), posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL), capsular ligament (CL), ligamenta flava (LF), and the interspinous ligament and supraspinous ligament complex (ISL + SSL), were investigated. The samples underwent specimen preparation, including dissection, cleaning, and reinforcement, before being immersed in epoxy resin. Uniaxial tensile tests were performed using a custom-designed mechanical testing machine equipped with an environmental chamber (T = 36.6 °C; humidity 95%). Then, the obtained tensile curves were averaged preserving the characteristic regions of typical ligaments response. Results Geometrical and mechanical properties, such as initial length and width, failure load, and failure elongation, were measured. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant differences among the ligaments for all investigated parameters. Pairwise comparisons using Tukey's post-hoc test indicated differences in initial length and width. ALL and PLL exhibited higher failure forces compared to CL and LF. ALL and ISL + SSL demonstrated biggest failure elongation. Comparisons with other studies showed variations in initial length, failure force, and failure elongation across different ligaments. The subsystem (Th1 – Th6 and Th7 – Th12) analysis revealed increases in initial length, width, failure force, and elongation for certain ligaments. Conclusions Variations of both the geometric and mechanical properties of the ligaments were noticed, highlighting their unique characteristics and response to tensile force. Presented results extend very limited experimental data base of thoracic spine ligaments existing in the literature. The obtained geometrical and mechanical properties can help in the development of more precise human body models (HBMs).

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Authors (4)

Radosław Wolny
Tomasz Wiczenbach mgr inż.
Angela Jadwiga Andrzejewska-Sroka (formerly: Angela Andrzejewska) dr inż.
Jan Henryk Spodnik dr n. med.

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Articles

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artykuły w czasopismach

Published in:

Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials no. 151,
ISSN: 1751-6161

Language:

English

Publication year:

2024

Bibliographic description:

Wolny R., Wiczenbach T., Andrzejewska A., Spodnik J. H.: Mechanical response of human thoracic spine ligaments under quasi-static loading: An experimental study// Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials -Vol. 151, (2024), s.106404-

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