Research Article Published: December 15, 2025 Volume 1, Issue 9

Development of a Patient-Specific Finite Element Model of the Human Lumbar Vertebra for Artificial Disc Design

Authors

Hend A Mostafa1

Affiliation: Faculty of Engineering, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.

Osama AM Abdelaal2

Affiliation: Faculty of Engineering, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.

Wael M Khier3

Affiliation: Faculty of Engineering, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.

AA Khalil Jane Doe4

Affiliation: Faculty of Engineering, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.

Abstract

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a leading cause of low-back pain. While artificial disc replacement offers an alternative to spinal fusion, complications often arise due to geometrical mismatches between the implant and the vertebral endplates. Furthermore, vertebral bone properties and geometry vary significantly based on age, sex, and conditions such as osteoporosis. Finite Element (FE) simulation provides an effective method to analyze these variations and facilitate the design of custom implants.
This study presents a methodology to create a patient-specific FE model of the L5 lumbar vertebra using medical digital imaging. Computed Tomography (CT) data were utilized to reconstruct the geometry, generate a volume mesh, and assign heterogeneous material properties based on Hounsfield Units. To validate the methodology, a finite element analysis of the model was performed under physiological loading conditions. The resulting stress, strain, and total deformation distributions were evaluated against previous literature, confirming the model's accuracy for use in pre-clinical implant design.

Keywords

Patient-Specific Modeling Finite Element Analysis Lumbar Spine CT-Based Material Assignment Artificial Disc Replacement

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How to Cite

APA Style:

Mostafa, H.A., Abdelaal, O.A.M., Khier, W.M., & Doe, A.K.J. (2025). Development of a patient-specific finite element model of the human lumbar vertebra for artificial disc design. International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Related Sciences, 1(9), 1-9.

IEEE Style:

H.A. Mostafa, O.A.M. Abdelaal, W.M. Khier, and A.K.J. Doe, "Development of a patient-specific finite element model of the human lumbar vertebra for artificial disc design," International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Related Sciences, vol. 1, no. 9, pp. 1-9, 2025.

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