Finite Element Analysis can simulate Nucleotomy

In conclusion to a SNSF project the ARTORG Musculoskeletal Biomechanics group and their colleagues were able to show that finite element (FE) models are able to reproduce the effect of nucleotomy on the mechanical behavior of human intervertebral discs (IVD). The group measured the biomechanical behavior of three degenerated intervertebral discs in multiple loading scenarios, prior and post nucleotomy, and used MRI images to build the corresponding hyperelastic FE models.