Cervical facet capsular ligament mechanics: Estimations based on subject‐specific anatomy and kinematics

Background To understand the facet capsular ligament's (FCL) role in cervical spine mechanics, interactions between FCL and other spinal components must be examined. One approach is to develop a subject-specific finite element (FE) model of lower spine, simulating motion segments their components' behaviors under physiological loading conditions. This can particularly attractive when patient's anatomical kinematic data are available. Methods We developed demonstrated methodology create 3D models with focus on ligament biomechanics. Displacement-controlled boundary conditions were applied vertebrae using kinematics extracted from biplane videoradiography during planar head motions, including axial rotation, lateral bending, flexion–extension. The geometries generated by fitting surface over estimated ligament–bone attachment regions. fiber structure material characteristics tissue available human data. method was application geometry healthy 23-year-old female subject. Results strain within resulting subsequently compared generic: (1) geometry, (2) kinematics, (3) properties assess effect specificity. Asymmetry both anatomy led asymmetry fields, highlighting importance patient-specific models. also found that calculated field largely independent constitutive driven morphology motion, but stress showed more constitutive-equation-dependence, as would expected given highly constrained FCLs. Conclusions current study provides used investigate various clinical questions coupling experimental multiscale computational