OBJECTIVETo study the effect of vertebrae semi-dislocation on the stress distribution in facet joint and interuertebral disc of patients with cervical syndrome using three dimensional finite element model.

METHODSA patient with cervical spondylosis was randomly chosen, who was male, 28 years old, and diagnosed as cervical vertebra semidislocation by dynamic and static palpation and X-ray, and scanned from C(1) to C(7) by 0.75 mm slice thickness of CT. Based on the CT data, the software was used to construct the three dimensional finite element model of cervical vertebra semidislocation (C(4)-C(6)). Based on the model,virtual manipulation was used to correct the vertebra semidislocation by the software, and the stress distribution was analyzed.

RESULTSThe result of finite element analysis showed that the stress distribution of C(5-6) facet joint and intervertebral disc changed after virtual manipulation.

CONCLUSIONThe vertebra semidislocation leads to the abnormal stress distribution of facet joint and intervertebral disc.

Adult ; Cervical Vertebrae ; injuries ; physiopathology ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; physiopathology ; Joint Dislocations ; physiopathology ; Male ; Models, Anatomic ; Stress, Physiological ; Zygapophyseal Joint ; physiopathology