Biomechanical behaviour of the spinal cord

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The overriding hypothesis of this research is that the mechanism of spinal cord injury is critical to the type of damage produced and thus is an important factor that should be incorporated in clinical decision-making.Our major progress over the past several years has highlighted several biomechanical issues that we will explore in the current proposal. Our specific objectives are i) to document the cord deformation patterns that occur in clinically relevant conditions and ii) to simulate patterns of spinal cord damage under these deformation patterns using the finite element method. To address the first specific objective, clinically relevant injuries of will be produced in our novel experimental model at high rates of loading (~1m/s). We will address contusion, fracture-dislocation, and flexion-distraction injuries. During the impact event, the deformation patterns of the spinal column and spinal cord will be monitored using our custom designed high-speed Xray system, which is capable of recording at 1,000 frames per second. To address our second objective, the dynamic cord deformations from the experimental studies will be input to our spinal cord model and the degree of primary damage to the cord tissue will be predicted. The main task involved with the second objective will be to refine our current three-vertebra cervical spine finite element model. Sensitivity studies will be conducted to guide us in this development. Our current strategy is to model the cord structure as a bulk material but the complexity of the problem may force us, in the future, to develop a more anatomically accurate microstructural model of the cord. The accuracy with which we can predict tissue damage patterns in the cord will guide thisresearch. It is anticipated that the main application area for the research will be in the acute stages of clinical treatment, particularly in the technique and timing of surgical intervention as well as the application of  repair/regeneration strategies in this acute setting. Ultimate success of the research will be realized in future clinical translation of the novel methods that demonstrates enhanced outcome for spinal cord injured individuals.