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S&M4045 Research Paper of Special Issue https://doi.org/10.18494/SAM5568 Published: May 30, 2025 Analyses of How the Design of a Hybrid Performance Stabilization System Affects Spinal Motion and Intervertebral Disc Pressure Using Finite Element Method [PDF] Chia-Wen Lee, Hao-Yuan Hsiao, Chao-Ming Hsu, Chih-Kun Hsiao, Qiang Wang, and Cheng-Fu Yang (Received January 27, 2025; Accepted April 17, 2025) Keywords: hybrid performance stabilization system, computed tomography, Mimics software, Solidworks software, ANSYS software
The hybrid performance stabilization (HPS) system combines rods, transitional screws, and coupler designs to provide semirigid fixation. This system maintains some range of motion near the fusion site during spinal fusion surgery, which may reduce compensatory effects at adjacent vertebral segments. However, clinical reports have shown the early degeneration of adjacent segments even in nonfusion surgeries, indicating that further research is needed on both the HPS design and its clinical applications. In this study, we began by collecting computed tomography (CT) scanning images from the twelfth thoracic vertebra (T12) to the sacrum (S1). Using Mimics software, vertebral contours were traced from these CT slices to create geometric models. The HPS coupler was then modeled using Solidworks software. Both models were subsequently meshed to create finite element models for analysis using ANSYS software. In this research, we investigated how varying the stiffness of the HPS coupler affected vertebral segment mobility and disc stress under flexion, extension, and lateral bending conditions. Additionally, we examined the suitability of HPS for intervertebral discs with moderate to severe degeneration by simulating these degenerative conditions.
Corresponding author: Chih-Kun Hsiao and Cheng-Fu Yang ![]() ![]() This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Cite this article Chia-Wen Lee, Hao-Yuan Hsiao, Chao-Ming Hsu, Chih-Kun Hsiao, Qiang Wang, and Cheng-Fu Yang, Analyses of How the Design of a Hybrid Performance Stabilization System Affects Spinal Motion and Intervertebral Disc Pressure Using Finite Element Method, Sens. Mater., Vol. 37, No. 5, 2025, p. 2105-2114. |