A Finite Element Analysis of the Pedicle Screw Displacement on Spine Implant with Varying Frictional Contact

Abstract:

Displacement can occur for a variety of reasons, including pedicle screw detachment from the spine, damaged pedicle screws, the supporting rod detaching from the pedicle screw, and broken supporting rods. The relationship between displacement and screw threads indicates that the displacement of the screw is a measure of thread movement, and the smaller the pitch (the space between the two screw threads), the lower the displacement of the screw. Results from a normal bone simulation using MSC-Marc show that variations in pedicle screws under tensile load result in a displacement of 5.53x10-5 mm for single-threaded conical pedicle implants, with no greater coefficient of friction than single-threaded cylindrical implants, which have a displacement of 1.62x10-6 mm. When a tensile load is applied to an osteopenia bone, a single-threaded conical implant with no coefficient of friction results in a displacement of 3.45x10-5 mm as opposed to a cylindrical implant. The higher contact force reinforces the pedicle screw's interface with the bone, making it less likely to detach due to the pedicle screw's tensile force. When applying tensile forces and bending moments to a single-threaded conical implant with a single-threaded cylindrical implant, the displacement increases as the friction coefficient rises

• Periodical: Engineering Headway (Volume 21)
• Pages: 3-14
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-v7MVRA
• Online since: May 2025
• Authors: Weriono Weriono*, Hendery Dahlan, Eka Sahputra Roni, Meifal Rusli
• Keywords: Displacement, Frictional Contact, Pedicle Screw, Scoliosis

References

[1] Nowak B, Experimental study on the loosening of pedicle screws implanted to synthetic bone vertebra models and under non-pull-out mechanical loads Journal of the Mechanical Behaviour of Biomedical Materials 98 200-204 (2019).

DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2019.06.013

[2] E.C Benzel, Biomechanics of spine stabilization,3rd edition,American Society of Neurological Surgeon, Thieme, (2015).

[3] Qing-Bo Lv, Xiang Gao, Xiang-Xiang Pan, Hai-Ming Jin, Xiao-Ting Lou, Shu-Min Li, Ying-Zhao Yan, Cong-Cong Wu, Yan Lin, Wen-Fei Ni, Xiang-Yang Wang, Ai-Min WuA, 2018, Biomechanical properties of novel transpedicular transdiscal screw fixation with interbody arthrodesis technique in lumbar spine, finite element study Journal of Orthopaedic Translation, p.15, (2018).

DOI: 10.1016/j.jot.2018.08.005

[4] Ming Xu, James Yang, Isador Lieberman, Ram Haddas, Stress distribution in vertebral bone and pedicle screw and screw–bone load transfers among various fixation methods for lumbar spine surgical alignment: A finite element study, , Journal Medical Engineering and Physics 63,26–32, (2018)

DOI: 10.1016/j.medengphy.2018.10.003

[5] Abdulsalam A. Al-Tamim, Chris Peach, Paulo Rui Fernandes, Akos Cseke, PauloBartolo. Topology Optimization to reduce the stress shielding effect for orthopedic applications. Procedia CIRP 65 ; 202 – 206, (2017).

DOI: 10.1016/j.procir.2017.04.032

[6] Xiao-Xing Song, Lin-Yu Jin,Xin-Feng Li, Lie Qian, Hong-Xing Shen, Zu-De Liu, Bu-Wei Yu, Effects of Low Bone Mineral Status on Biomechanical Characteristics in Idiopathic Scoliotic Spinal Deformity: Word Neuro Surgery ; p :321- 329, (2018).

DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2017.10.177

[7] Weriono, Meifal Rusli, Roni Eka Sahputra, H.Dahlan, Finite element analysis of stress on thoracic and pedicle scre,w interface with various loading and bone quality, AIP Conference Proceedings; 2545, 020013, (2022).

DOI: 10.1063/5.0103465

[8] Torphong Bunmaprasert, Nattharut Chaibhuddanugul, Jakkrit Keeratiruangrong, Raphi Raphitphan, Nantawit Sugandhavesa, Wongthawat Liawrungrueang, Corrective osteotomy of global sagittal imbalance in the neglected fracture-dislocation thoracic spine, (2021)

DOI: 10.1016/j.tcr.2021.100409

[9] Weriono Weriono, Meifal Rusli, Roni Eka Sahputra, Hendery.Dahlan, Pedicle Screw Bond Strength and Resistance Characteristics With Various Mineral Quality, TEM Journal, Vol.13-1, 809-817, (2024).

DOI: 10.18421/tem131-83

[10] Marco Palanca *, Sara Oliviero , Enrico Dall'Ara. MicroFE models of porcine vertebrae with induced bone focal lesions: Validation of predicted displacements with digital volume correlation, journal of the mechanical behavior of biomedical materials, 125;104872, (2022).

DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2021.104872

[11] J. Clin, F.L. Naveaux, M.Driscoll, J.M. Thiong, H. Labelle, S. Parent, S. A. Shah, B S. Lonner, P.O. Newton, H. Serhan, Biomechanical Comparison of the Load-Sharing Capacity of High and Low Implant Density Constructs With Three Types of Pedicle Screws for the Instrumentation of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis, Spine Deformity 7(1), 2-10 (2019).

DOI: 10.1016/j.jspd.2018.06.007

[12] Q.B. Lv, X. Gao, X.X. Pan, H.M Jin, X.T Lou, S.M Li, Y.Z Yan, C.C Wu, Y. Lin, W.F Ni, X.Y. Wang, A.M. Wu, Biomechanical properties of novel transpedicular transdiscal screw fixation with interbody arthrodesis technique in lumbar spine, finite element study, Journal of Orthopaedic Translation 15, 50-58, (2018).

DOI: 10.1016/j.jot.2018.08.005

[13] Z. Kamal, G. Rouhi, N. Arjmand, S. Adeeb, Stability-based model of a growing spine with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: A combination of musculoskeletal and finite element approaches, Journal Medical Engineering and Physics 64, 46-55, (2019).

DOI: 10.1016/j.medengphy.2018.12.015

[14] Costa, M.C., Campello, L.B.B., Ryan, M., Rochester, J., Viceconti, M., Dall'Ara, E., Effect of size and location of simulated lytic lesions on the structural properties of human vertebral bodies, a micro-finite element study. Bone Reports 12, 100257, (2020).

DOI: 10.1016/j.bonr.2020.100257