Finite element analysis in adjacent segment degeneration after lumbar fusion

Adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) following lumbar fusion has been well documented in recent years. However, the pathogenesis of ASD is not clear. To investigate this issue, we established a finite element model of segments L2–L5, simulated a single‐segment posterior fixation in L3–L4 and investigated the stress variation and the effects of the instrumented lumbar posterior fixation on adjacent levels.

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