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PubMed2004

Anomalous effect of compression pressure on the brittle fracture tendency of alpha-cellulose tablets.

The effect of varying the compression pressure on the brittle fracture tendency of alpha-cellulose and lactose tablets has been investigated. Tablet tensile strength, (T), packing fraction, (Pf), and brittle fracture index (BFI) were determined at different compression pressures (0.82, 1.22 and 1.63 MPa). In another aspect of the study, alpha-cellulose and tapioca powders were mixed in various proportions to obtain powders of varying plastoelasticity. Their tableting characteristics T, Pf and BFI were also determined at the different compression pressures. The polymer, alpha-cellulose displayed the characteristics of plastic compression--a low BFI but high T and Pf values while lactose displayed the characteristics of elastic compression--a high BFI but low T and Pf values. The degree of plastic compression decreased as the proportion of tapioca in the powder mixture increased from 0 to 50% w/w. Higher concentrations of tapioca >50% produced crumbly tablets at all compression pressures, thus indicating that tapioca is highly elastic. Increase in the compression pressure caused an increase in the BFI values of lactose tablets, 0.39-0.76 but a decrease in the BFI values of alpha-cellulose tablets, 0.38-0.09. This decrease became less pronounced as the plasticity of the powder mixtures decreased. The difference in the response of the tablets to the change in compression pressure relates to the difference in the plastoelasticity of the materials tested.

Cellulose↗

PubMed2005

Localization and changes of intraneural inflammatory cytokines and inducible-nitric oxide induced by mechanical compression.

STUDY DESIGN: Investigation of intraneural inflammation induced by mechanical compression. OBJECTIVES: In order to investigate the mechanism of neuropathy, this study used a median nerve compression model in dogs. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the localization and changes of inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide (NO). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The manifestation of pain at sites of inflammation has a close relationship with the release of mediators from macrophages such as interleulin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), as well as with NO. However, the mediators involved in inflammation of nerve due to mechanical compression remain almost unknown. METHODS: In this study, the median nerve of dogs was compressed with a clip for three weeks to observe the changes caused by compression. Immunohistochemistry was done by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method to observe the changes of T cells (CD45) and macrophages (Mac-1) after compression. Antibodies against IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and inducible nitric oxide synthesis (i-NOS) were used to examine the localization and changes of these mediators caused by nerve compression. RESULTS: In control animals, resident T cells were detected, but there were no macrophages. IL-1beta was positive in the Schwann cells and vascular endothelial cells. However, no cells showed TNF-alpha or i-NOS positively. After nerve compression, numerous T cells and macrophages appeared among the demyelinized nerve fibers. The macrophages were positive for IL-1beta, TNF-alpha and i-NOS. CONCLUSION: Inflammatory cytokines and NO may be involved in intraneural inflammatory changes arising from mechanical compression. Such mediators may be of importance in the manifestation of neuropathy.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Cartilage interstitial fluid load support in unconfined compression.

Under physiological conditions of loading, articular cartilage is subjected to both compressive strains, normal to the articular surface, and tensile strains, tangential to the articular surface. Previous studies have shown that articular cartilage exhibits a much higher modulus in tension than in compression, and theoretical analyses have suggested that this tension-compression nonlinearity enhances the magnitude of interstitial fluid pressurization during loading in unconfined compression, above a theoretical threshold of 33% of the average applied stress. The first hypothesis of this experimental study is that the peak fluid load support in unconfined compression is significantly greater than the 33% theoretical limit predicted for porous permeable tissues modeled with equal moduli in tension and compression. The second hypothesis is that the peak fluid load support is higher at the articular surface side of the tissue samples than near the deep zone, because the disparity between the tensile and compressive moduli is greater at the surface zone. Ten human cartilage samples from six patellofemoral joints, and 10 bovine cartilage specimens from three calf patellofemoral joints were tested in unconfined compression. The peak fluid load support was measured at 79 +/- 11% and 69 +/- 15% at the articular surface and deep zone of human cartilage, respectively, and at 94 +/- 4% and 71 +/- 8% at the articular surface and deep zone of bovine calf cartilage, respectively. Statistical analyses confirmed both hypotheses of this study. These experimental results suggest that the tension-compression nonlinearity of cartilage is an essential functional property of the tissue which makes interstitial fluid pressurization the dominant mechanism of load support in articular cartilage.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Measuring forces and frequency during active compression decompression cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a device for training, research and real CPR.

Active compression decompression (ACD) cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is possibly a superior alternative to standard (STD) CPR, but an optimal compression and decompression pattern has to be ensured. ACD-CPR can be evaluated during CPR training sessions using commercially available manikins; however devices for recording compression and decompression forces or frequency during real CPR are lacking. Using the Ambu CardioPump without changing its mechanical characteristics, two force transducers were integrated into the ACD device. Using specially designed electronics and a portable computer, compression and decompression forces were measured and displayed continuously and compression frequency and the compression decompression phase are calculated on-line during real CPR action. All measured parameters were stored on a hard disk for later retrieval and analysis. Linearity of force measurement was better than 6% within a -250- +500 N range. The error in repeatability was below 5% thus outperforming the original mechanical force measurement system of the Ambu CardioPump. Compression frequency was calculated very accurately (error < 1%). The system has been successfully used during CPR training, during ACD-CPR in 37 corpses under research conditions and in five out-of-hospital CPR casualties. Simple and safe in use, our modified CardioPump with integrated electronics provides an important, technically advanced solution for monitoring ACD-CPR on-line. It warrants quality assurance during ACD-CPR training and in real CPR scenarios and guarantees accurate recording of compression and decompression forces and compression frequency.

Cadaver↗

PubMed1997

Compression forces of haptics of selected posterior chamber lenses.

PURPOSE: To compare the compressive forces of the haptics of different intraocular lens (IOL) models and analyze the observed differences. SETTING: Central Hospital of Central Finland and University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland. METHODS: The haptics of 28 IOL models were compressed to a diameter of 9.0 mm. The compression forces were measured at 0.5 mm intervals. The conclusions were verified by numerical simulations of mechanical models of the lenses. RESULTS: The measured forces varied between 100 and 601 mg at a diameter of 11.0 mm, 206 and 1057 mg at a diameter of 10.0 mm, and 315 and 2094 mg at a diameter of 9.0 mm. The slopes of the force curves of the three-piece lenses were fairly linear. In general, the three-piece models were less rigid than one-piece models and underwent plastic deformations after repeated compressions. For most one-piece models, compression force increased progressively with increasing compression. The overall IOL diameter and differences in haptic thickness and length and the angle between optic at the point of haptic insertion were the main causes of the observed differences in the compression forces. The variation in forces between individual specimens of the same model, which occurred with almost all models, were mainly the result of variations in haptic thickness. CONCLUSION: Great variations in the compression forces of the IOL haptics were found. Compression behaviors should be taken into account when selecting a lens to implant.

Compressive Strength↗

PubMed2000

Effect of compression force on the crystal properties of erythromycin acistrate tablets.

The crystal properties of compressed and powdered erythromycin acistrate tablets were studied by the X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) method. Detailed analysis of X-ray powder diffraction line profiles was performed. Diffraction peak intensities and full width at half maximum (FWHM) values of the peaks corresponding to three different crystal lattice directions were determined. Crystallite size was calculated by Scherrer's equation using the data of integral breadth of the peaks. The preferred orientation of the crystallites is also discussed. According to the results, the crystallite size increased on the tablet surface after a small compression force (4 kN) in all crystal lattice directions studied. Even small compression forces caused recrystallization. With higher compression forces (8-18 kN) the crystallite size and the FWHM values remained rather constant. After the compression force of 18 kN the peaks in different crystal lattice directions behaved differently. In the lattice directions of diffraction maxima 2 and 3, the effect was the same with the small (4 kN) and the high compression force (22 kN). Further recrystallization occurred with 22 kN. However, in the crystal lattice direction of diffraction maximum 1 at the compression force of 8 kN the crystallite broke and crystallinity decreased. These were not seen in the powdered tablet samples. It could be concluded that the effect of compression force on the crystal properties of erythromycin acistrate tablets was seen on the tablet surface but not in the powdered tablets. Compression force also affected the preferred orientation of crystallites on the tablet surface and especially in the lattice direction of diffraction maximum 3. This was not seen in the powdered tablets.

Chemistry, Pharmaceutical↗

PubMed2001

The effect of shape and porosity on the compression behaviour and tablet forming ability of granular materials formed from microcrystalline cellulose.

The compression behaviour of two types of granules prepared from microcrystalline cellulose was evaluated. Three sets (low, intermediate and high intragranular porosity) of irregular granules and three sets of nearly spherical granules (called pellets) were prepared from microcrystalline cellulose by wet agglomeration or wet agglomeration followed by extrusion/spheronisation. The granules and pellets were similar in size. The range of intragranular porosity, although wide, was also similar for both types. The compression behaviour was evaluated in terms of the degree of compression, the appearance of the tablets and the size distribution of retrieved aggregates (after deaggregation). The compactability of the granules and pellets was also studied. Both types of granules kept their integrity during compression. The dominant mechanism during compression appeared to be permanent deformation. However, during compression of high porosity granules, fragmentation or attrition seemed to occur alongside deformation. Tablets formed from granules had a closer pore structure than those formed from pellets of equal intragranular porosity and the granules seemed to deform to a higher degree during compression. The total tablet porosity was almost independent of the intragranular porosity and the shape of the granules before compression. It is suggested that the degree of granule deformation was controlled by the intragranular porosity and voidage of each bed of granules before compression. The tensile strength of the tablets was also dependent on the porosity and the shape of the granules; tablets formed from irregular granules were stronger than those formed from pellets of an equal intragranular porosity.

Cellulose↗

PubMedDate not supplied

On lossy transform compression of ECG signals with reference to deformation of their parameter values.

Electrocardiogram (ECG) signals are the most prominent biomedical signal type used in clinical medicine. Their compression is important and widely researched in the medical informatics community. In the previous literature compression efficacy has been investigated only in the context of how much known or developed methods reduced the storage required by compressed forms of original ECG signals. Sometimes statistical signal evaluations based on, for example, root mean square error were studied. In previous research we developed a refined method for signal compression and tested it jointly with several known techniques for other biomedical signals. Our method of so-called successive approximation quantization used with wavelets was one of the most successful in those tests. In this paper, we studied to what extent these lossy compression methods altered values of medical parameters (medical information) computed from signals. Since the methods are lossy, some information is lost due to the compression when a high enough compression ratio is reached. We found that ECG signals sampled at 400 Hz could be compressed to one fourth of their original storage space, but the values of their medical parameters changed less than 5% due to compression, which indicates reliable results.

Algorithms↗

PubMed1995

Laser Doppler study of porcine cauda equina blood flow. The effect of electrical stimulation of the rootlets during single and double site, low pressure compression of the cauda equina.

STUDY DESIGN: This study involved a model of spinal claudication to assess the effect of single and double site compressions on blood flow in porcine cauda equina. Real-time monitoring of blood flow was achieved by using laser Doppler probes. OBJECTIVES: To ascertain the difference between single and double site compressions on blood flow and nerve conduction in the cauda equina. Also, to provide possible explanations for the mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of neurogenic claudication. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The model used was based on that of K. Olmarker. Double as compared with single site compression of cauda equina showed impaired nerve impulse propagation and decreased blood flow. METHOD: Pigs weighing 22-27 kg were anesthesized and the cauda equina was exposed by dorsal laminectomy of the sacral and first three coccygeal vertebrae. Polyethylene balloons were placed over the rootlets at the first and third coccygeal segments, and stimulating electrodes were positioned on the rootlets proximally to evoke motor activity. Electromyographic activity was monitored from tail musculature. Laser Doppler probes monitored blood flow in the cauda equina both between and distal to the two compression sites. RESULTS: Single site, low level compression did not affect blood flow whereas double site compression decreased it profoundly. Proximal stimulation caused a marked increase in blood flow, which was not sustained during prolonged compression. Electromyographic activity diminished concomitantly during this compression. CONCLUSIONS: Low pressure, double site compression significantly reduces cauda equina blood flow and prevents the sustained increase in blood flow required to maintain normal neurologic rootlet function. Local blood flow failure may therefore be responsible for claudication symptoms.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Magnetic resonance imaging differentiation of compression spine fractures or vertebral lesions caused by osteoporosis or tumor.

STUDY DESIGN: This study reviewed the magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of atraumatic compression fractures or vertebral lesions caused by osteoporosis of tumor. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging characteristics that will allow differentiation of compression fractures or vertebral lesions due to osteoporosis or tumor. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Previous reports have identified several magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of benign and malignant compression fractures. However, diagnosis has been confirmed primarily by clinical follow-up and not pathologic biopsy specimen. METHODS: Thirty-four cases of atraumatic compression fractures or vertebral lesions that had undergone magnetic resonance imaging evaluation followed by biopsy were retrospectively reviewed. Conventional magnetic resonance imaging with T1- and T2-weighted images were obtained in all cases and gadolinium was used in 21 cases. Each case was evaluated for magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of the compression fractures or vertebral lesions that included decreased T1 and increased T2 signal, marrow preservation on the T1 image, gadolinium lesion enhancement, multiple level involvement, associated soft tissue mass, posterior vertebral expansion, and pedicle involvement. RESULTS: Eighteen of the compression fractures or vertebral lesions were confirmed as tumor and 16 were confirmed as osteoporosis by biopsy. Decreased T1- weighted and increased T2-weighted signals are sensitive but not specific for tumor involvement. Normal marrow preservation of the compressed vertebral body on T1 imaging is consistent with an osteoporotic fracture or lesion. Gadolinium enhancement, multiple level involvement, and posterior vertebral expansion are not useful for differentiation of osteoporotic from tumor fractures or lesions. Pedicle involvement or an associated soft tissue mass are specific for a tumor compression fracture or vertebral lesion. CONCLUSIONS: There are characteristic magnetic resonance imaging findings of compression fractures or vertebral lesions that allow sensitive and specific differentiation of osteoporosis from tumor.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Changes in responses of wide dynamic range neurons in the spinal dorsal horn after dorsal root or dorsal root ganglion compression.

STUDY DESIGN: The electrophysiologic responses of wide dynamic range neurons in the spinal dorsal horn by compression of the dorsal root or of the dorsal root ganglion were investigated. OBJECTIVES: This study identified differences between the compression of the dorsal root against the compression of the dorsal root ganglion by examining the responses of wide dynamic range neurons. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The wide dynamic range neurons studied were known to be excited by primary afferent fibers, not only combined A delta and C-nociceptive fibers but also low threshold mechanoreceptive A beta fibers and A delta fibers of down hairs. Thus, the wide dynamic range neurons are classified as nociceptive neurons. METHODS: Extracellular activities of 32 wide dynamic range neurons were recorded from the laminae 4-6 of the seventh lumbar cord in anesthetized cats. A microvessel clip (40 g) was applied to compress the dorsal root or the dorsal root ganglion. RESULTS: Dorsal root compression produced only an initial burst (about 10-40 seconds). Prolonged repetitive firings were rarely maintained. In contrast, dorsal root ganglion compression resulted in a maintained repetitive firing throughout the period of compression. After release of compression of the dorsal root and the dorsal root ganglion, responses to brushing were facilitated, and the low threshold center of the receptive field expanded. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are consistent with the previous report that the radicular pain associated with a herniated intervertebral disc initially results from compression of the dorsal root ganglion.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

The effect of anterior thoracolumbar plate application on the compressive loading of the strut graft.

STUDY DESIGN: In vitro biomechanical testing was performed using a simulated vertebral body bone graft instrumented with strain gauges. Strains were recorded from various locations on the graft during axial compressive loading. Comparisons were made of the strain patterns recorded before and after application of two different anterior plates. OBJECTIVES: To quantify the changes in axial compression experienced by the strut graft in the presence of an anterior plate. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The use of anterior instrumentation to augment anterior thoracolumbar grafting offers the potential advantage of saving additional motion segments while being performed in a single-stage surgery. Several biomechanical studies have compared the anteriorly grafted and instrumented spine to the compressive axial stiffness and torsional rigidity of the intact spine. No previous study has addressed the loading patterns experienced by the graft before and after plating. METHODS: Anterior spinal plates of two designs (Amset ALPS Anterior Locking Plate System; AMS, Hayward, California; Anterior Thoracolumbar Locking Plate System; Synthes Spine, Paoli, Pennsylvania) were evaluated to determine the axial compressive forces experienced by the bone graft before and after application of the plates. Bovine spines harvested from 8- to 12-week-old calves were used for testing. All plates were tested in axial compression to 500 N. Simultaneous recordings were made of the axial strains on the simulated bone graft and the load applied to the construct. Comparisons were made of the strain through the graft without any instrumentation (graft alone, or baseline), with the plate applied, and after removal of the caudal screws (dynamization). RESULTS: With the application of the ALPS plate, the compressive strain through the graft adjacent to the plate averaged 77% of the graft alone construct (range, 39% to 158%). After application of the Synthes plate, the compressive strain through the graft adjacent to the plate averaged 34% of the graft alone construct (range, -14% to 97%). Once the caudal screws were removed, the dynamized construct allowed near-baseline compression through the graft. CONCLUSIONS: Although the literature indicates that the anteriorly instrumented spine may restore the overall spinal structure to near-normal resistance to rotation and flexion forces, the current study demonstrates that a significant amount of compression through the graft is lost by its application. This decreased axial loading further supports the concept of device-related osteopenia observed clinically with such devices.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Viscoelastic relaxation and regional blood flow response to spinal cord compression and decompression.

STUDY DESIGN: To better understand the relationships between primary mechanical factors of spinal cord trauma and secondary mechanisms of injury, this study evaluated regional blood flow and somatosensory evoked potential function in an in vivo canine model with controlled velocity spinal cord displacement and real-time piston-spinal cord interface pressure feedback. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of regional spinal cord blood flow and viscoelastic cord relaxation on recovery of neural conduction, with and without spinal cord decompression. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The relative contribution of mechanical and vascular factors on spinal cord injury remains undefined. METHODS: Twelve beagles were anesthetized and underwent T13 laminectomy. A constant velocity spinal cord compression was applied using a hydraulic loading piston with a subminiature pressure transducer rigidly attached to the spinal column. Spinal cord displacement was stopped when somatosensory evoked potential amplitudes decreased by 50% (maximum compression). Six animals were decompressed 5 minutes after maximum compression and were compared with six animals who had spinal cord displacement maintained for 3 hours and were not decompressed. Regional spinal cord blood flow was measured with a fluorescent microsphere technique. RESULTS: At maximum compression, regional spinal cord blood flow at the injury site fell from 19.0 +/- 1.3 mL/100 g/min to 12.6 +/- 1.0 mL/100 g/min, whereas piston-spinal cord interface pressure was 30.5 +/- 1.8 kPa, and cord displacement measured 2.1 +/- 0.1 mm (mean +/- SE). Five minutes after the piston translation was stopped, the spinal cord interface pressure had dissipated 51%, whereas the somatosensory evoked potential amplitudes continued to decrease to 16% of baseline. In the sustained compression group, cord interface pressure relaxed to 13% of maximum within 90 minutes; however, no recovery of somatosensory evoked potential function occurred, and regional spinal cord blood flow remained significantly lower than baseline at 30 and 180 minutes after maximum compression. In the six animals that underwent spinal cord decompression, somatosensory evoked potential function and regional spinal cord blood flow recovered to baseline 30 minutes after maximum compression. CONCLUSIONS: Despite rapid cord relaxation of more than 50% within 5 minutes after maximum compression, somatosensory evoked potential conduction recovered only with early decompression. Spinal cord decompression was associated with an early recovery of regional spinal cord blood flow and somatosensory evoked potential recovery. By 3 hours, spinal cord blood flow was similar in both the compressed and decompressed groups, despite that somatosensory evoked potential recovery occurred only in the decompressed group.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

The optimal radiologic method for assessing spinal canal compromise and cord compression in patients with cervical spinal cord injury. Part II: Results of a multicenter study.

STUDY DESIGN: A multicenter, retrospective study using computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging data to establish quantitative, reliable criteria of canal compromise and cord compression in patients with cervical spinal cord injury. OBJECTIVES: To develop and validate a radiologic assessment tool of spinal canal compromise and cord compression in cervical spinal cord injury for use in clinical trials. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There are few quantitative, reliable criteria for radiologic measurement of cervical spinal canal compromise or cord compression after acute spinal cord injury. METHODS: The study included 71 patients (55 men, 16 women; mean age, 39.7 +/- 18.7 years) with acute cervical spinal cord injury. Causes of spinal cord injury included motor vehicle accidents (n = 36), falls (n = 20), water-related injuries (n = 8), sports (n = 5), assault (n = 1), and farm accidents (n = 1). Canal compromise was measured on computed tomographic scan and T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, and cord compression at the level of maximum injury was measured on T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. All films were assessed by two independent observers. RESULTS: There was a strong correlation of canal compromise and/or cord compression measurements between axial and midsagittal computed tomography, and between axial and midsagittal T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Spinal canal compromise assessed by computed tomography showed a significant although moderate correlation with spinal cord compression assessed by T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Virtually all patients with canal compromise of 25% or more on computed tomographic scan had evidence of some degree of cord compression on magnetic resonance imaging, but a large number of patients with less than 25% canal compromise on computed tomographic scan also had evidence on magnetic resonance imaging of cord compression. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with cervical spinal cord injury, the midsagittal T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging provides an objective, quantifiable, and reliable assessment of spinal cord compression that cannot be adequately assessed by computed tomography alone.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Load-carrying capacity of the human cervical spine in compression is increased under a follower load.

STUDY DESIGN: An experimental approach was used to test human cadaveric cervical spine specimens. OBJECTIVE: To assess the response of the cervical spine to a compressive follower load applied along a path that approximates the tangent to the curve of the cervical spine. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The compressive load on the human cervical spine is estimated to range from 120 to 1200 N during activities of daily living. Ex vivo experiments show it buckles at approximately 10 N. Differences between the estimated in vivo loads and the ex vivo load-carrying capacity have not been satisfactorily explained. METHODS: A new experimental technique was developed for applying a compressive follower load of physiologic magnitudes up to 250 N. The experimental technique applied loads that minimized the internal shear forces and bending moments, loading the specimen in nearly pure compression. RESULTS: A compressive vertical load applied in the neutral and forward-flexed postures caused large changes in cervical lordosis at small load magnitudes. The specimen collapsed in extension or flexion at a load of less than 40 N. In sharp contrast, the cervical spine supported a load of up to 250 N without damage or instability in both the sagittal and frontal planes when the load path was tangential to the spinal curve. The cervical spine was significantly less flexible under a compressive follower load compared with the hypermobility demonstrated under a compressive vertical load (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The load-carrying capacity of the ligamentous cervical spine sharply increased under a compressive follower load. This experiment explains how a whole cervical spine can be lordotic and yet withstand the large compressive loads estimated in vivo without damage or instability.

Cadaver↗

PubMed2001

A method to study lumbar spine response to axial compression during magnetic resonance imaging: technical note.

STUDY DESIGN: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-compatible device was developed to apply calibrated compression loads to the lumbar spine during imaging. Experiments were performed to establish a protocol to measure lumbar load-response and estimate muscle-force contribution to spinal load. OBJECTIVE: To develop experimental methodology for direct study of lumbar spine response to compression load. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Most lumbar MRI scans require subjects to lie relaxed and supine, but spinal stenosis has been demonstrated to increase during moderate compressive loading. Several devices have been used to load the spine during MRI, but they could not maintain and/or change calibrated loads during MRI experiments. Furthermore, artifact from viscoelastic creep during imaging was not considered. METHODS: An MRI-compatible spine compression unit with pneumatic load elements was developed to produce calibrated compression loads. Young healthy men were loaded with 140% body weight for up to 10 minutes to establish an appropriate test protocol. Muscle force contribution to spinal load was estimated from electromyography experiments. RESULTS: The spine compression unit produced specified loads +/- 29 N (standard deviation). Spine viscoelastic creep reached steady state by 6.5 minutes, leaving 3.5 minutes for image acquisition. The subjects could support 1.0 body weight for the requisite 10 minutes. Muscle compressive force estimates were only 135 N during application of 1.4 x body weight external compression load; thus, internal muscle forces during supine spine compression could be neglected. CONCLUSIONS: The lumbar load/image protocol fits within the time constraints of creep deformation and subject endurance. These methods allow acute lumbar mechanical response measurements during loading.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

The effect of nucleotomy on lumbar spine mechanics in compression and shear loading.

STUDY DESIGN: An in vitro biomechanical investigation on human cadaveric specimens was conducted before and after nucleotomy. Endplate and vertebral body deformation patterns were measured under compression and shear loading, in addition to kinematics and disc pressure. OBJECTIVE: The working hypotheses of this study were that in compression, nucleotomy results in an altered deformation pattern of the endplate and that in shear, nucleotomy does not result in an altered endplate deformation pattern or disc pressure. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The pressure distributions within the intervertebral disc have been studied in compression loading but not in shear loading. Severe degeneration and surgical nucleotomy result in small nuclear pressure and altered loading distribution in compression. The effect of these changes on the vertebral endplate and the response under shear loads are not well understood. METHODS: Five L3-L4 and two L4-L5 functional spinal units were tested under compression and shear loading, intact and after nucleotomy. Vertebral body deformations, intradiscal pressure, and intervertebral kinematics were measured. A series of compression-type (maximum 1000 N) and shear-type (maximum 500 N) loads were applied. RESULTS: With nucleotomy, the disc pressure and the endplate strains decreased under compression, but the vertebral rim strains did not change. In shear, the vertebral rim and endplate strains did not change with nucleotomy. Disc pressure was lower in shear than in compression. CONCLUSION: Nucleotomy resulted in decreased disc pressure, decreased endplate deformation, and modified loading patterns onto the inferior vertebra in compression loading. However, nucleotomy did not appreciably affect the behavior of the disc in shear loading.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Mechanism of destructive pathologic changes in the spinal cord under chronic mechanical compression.

STUDY DESIGN: A histologic and histochemical study was performed both in the autopsy of a human patient with cervical spinal cord compression caused by ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament and in a tiptoe-walking Yoshimura mouse model of progressive cervical cord compression. OBJECTIVES: To clarify the mechanism of destructive pathologic changes in the spinal cord under chronic mechanical compression. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Under chronic compression, the spinal cord exhibits destructive changes considered to be causes of profound and irreversible motor paresis. Recently, some investigators have found that apoptosis in acute spinal cord injury induces both secondary degeneration at the site of injury and chronic demyelination of tracts away from the site of injury. However, the mechanism responsible for these destructive spinal cord changes under chronic compression remains unclear. METHODS: The spinal cord was examined histologically, and an attempt was made to detect apoptotic cells using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling in both the autopsy of a human patient and tiptoe-walking mice exhibiting spinal cord compression. RESULTS: Apoptotic cells were observed in the chronically compressed spinal cord in both the autopsy of a human patient and model mice. In tiptoe-walking mice exhibiting spinal cord compression, descending degeneration in the anterior and lateral columns and ascending degeneration in the posterior column were observed. The distribution of oligodendrocytes with positive results from terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling was similar to that for degeneration of the long tracts. CONCLUSIONS: Spinal cord cell apoptosis may produce destructive changes in the spinal cord under chronic compression, with a resulting irreversible neurologic deficit.

Aged↗