The objective of this study was to determine the geometrical and biomechanical properties of cervical spine ligaments from the axis to the first thoracic level. A total of thirty-three human cadavers were used. Geometrical data included the length and cross-sectional area measurements. The biomechanical properties included the force, deflection, stiffness, energy, stress, strain, and Young's modulus of elasticity data. Data were obtained for the following ligaments: anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments, joint capsules, ligamentum flavum, and interspinous ligament. Cryomicrotomy techniques were used to determine the geometrical characteristic. The length data were obtained using sagittal images, and area data were determined using axial images. The biomechanical tests involved conducting failure tensile tests at a quasistatic rate of 10 mm/sec using in situ principles (ligaments were not tested in isolation).The force-deformation relationships for each ligament type and at each spinal level were normalized. The mean force-deformation curves were obtained and grouped into clinically relevant mid and lower cervical regions. The data are of value to better develop and exercise mathematical analogs such as finite element (FE) and multibody dynamic models which can be used to more realistically predict the internal and external biomechanical responses of the human cervical spine.
Abstract