Background of Research
In daily life, approximately 80% of adults worldwide suffer from chronic lower back pain, consequently becoming a significant contributing factor to poor health. The cause of lower back pain range from generic factors like aging, lifestyle, occupation, and other preventable factors like obesity and poor physical health. Since the introduction of spinal implantation surgeries in 1967, they are now a common solution for resolving spinal pain and deformities, strengthening and improving spinal stability and chronic symptoms. One method of spinal implantation uses fusion cages, placed anteriorly as an interbody cage between vertebrae at the disc, helping to support bone regeneration and fusion. After research, it was found that many design features of fusion cages should be considered, including the shape, stiffness, strength of biomaterial, etc. Cage design can help optimize the benefits of the implant whilst minimizing migration of the cage within the vertebrae after implantation. Poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) will be used as the biomaterial for fusion cages as it is bioinert, biocompatible, lightweight, strong, flexible, and has a Young Modulus similar to that of cortical bone. This will promote equal stress distribution, and result in higher osseointegration rates and reduced adverse subsidence rates. Our objective is to design the fusion implant with the greatest mechanical properties to help support lumbar spines.
Aim
To optimize the structure and shape of fusion cage implants based on mechanical properties, maximizing structural stiffness and strength to bring the most support for lumbar spines when used in implant surgeries. Hypothesis
Spinal fusion cages with higher stiffness values will affect healing time and provide better fusion rates for lumbar spinal segments, and hence better support as implants. This will result in the most advantageous mechanical properties for fusion cages, decreasing the time required for the restoration of spinal function.
