Investigation On The Effects Of Human Weight On Intervertebral Disc At Human Lumbar Spine Using Finite Element Analysis

Tan, Kah Yin (2017) Investigation On The Effects Of Human Weight On Intervertebral Disc At Human Lumbar Spine Using Finite Element Analysis. Project Report. UTeM, Melaka, Malaysia. (Submitted)

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Abstract

The population of obesity is expected to increase especially in developed country. The excess human weight compared to normal weight produce extra force to the lumbar spine .Therefore, the increased load originated from the human weight change the mechanical properties of the intervertebral disc which can lead to damage in nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus. However, this project intended to investigate the biomechanical effect of human weight on intervertebral disc at human lumbar spine using finite element analysis. The compressive load of 700 N, 900 N and 1100 N with flexion and extension were exerted to the human lumbar spine model that represent the population of normal, overweight and obese. From the result obtained from ABAQUS, the pressure and stress distribution in intervertebral disc increases from normal to obese compressive load. The highest pressure in nucleus pulposus obtained from the analysis was 2.7 MPa during extension motion in L2-L3 lumbar segment under obese compressive load tended to cause disc degeneration disease. Additionally, the highest percentage difference of annulus stress distribution resulted 108.12 % compared to normal weight load during flexion motion in L2-L3 lumbar segment. This increasing weight condition elevated the risk for annulus fibrosus to rupture and damage.

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