The degenerative state of the intervertebral disk independently predicts the failure of human lumbar spine to high rate loading: An experimental study

摘要

Background: In the elderly, 30%-50% of patients report a fall event to precede the onset of vertebral fractures. The dynamic characteristics of the spine determine the peak forces on the vertebrae in a fall. However, we know little about the effect of intervertebral disk degeneration on the failure of human spines under the high loading rates associated with such falls. We hypothesized that MR estimates of disk hydration and viscoelastic properties will provide better estimates of failure strength than bone density alone.