Monte Carlo Simulation of Spine Geometry From T12 to Sacrum in Males

In biomechanical modeling of spine, the prediction of spinal loading during occupational activities is crucial in assessment of the risk of low back pain and injury of spine. Current biomechanical models are based on the average data. Hence, they are unable to predict the effects of the observed natural anatomical variations on muscles moment arms and lines of action, while these variations ultimately influence the required muscular forces for balancing the external moments of any given task. In this work, a methodology based on the Monte Carlo technique has been developed to simulate spine geometry from T12 to S1 vertebrae for males. The lordosis of the assembled spine ranged between 21° to 63° with an average equal to 42.2°, which is within the reported values in the literature. Obtained data could be used as an input to equilibrium/stability based biomechanical spine models to assess the contribution of different geometry. This model is intended to merge with our stochastic spine model of spine to test the effects of various sources of variability on spinal loadings and its risk of failure.