Examining the Collagen Fiber Alignment in Cadaveric Lumbar Facet Capsular Ligaments and Their Effect on the Mechanics of the Spine at Multiple Scales

Abstract

Low back pain is a very common condition that place a huge financial burden on the health care system and can greatly decrease the quality of life of the people it affects. One known cause of low back pain is the facet capsular ligaments (FCLs) in the lumbar spine. The main focus of my dissertation was to examine the mechanical properties of the lumbar FCLs. The FCL is a curved ligament that surrounds the facet joints on the spine. Due to its complex geometry and a complex microstructure we needed to combine imaging (Small angle X-ray scattering) and mechanical tests of cadaveric tissue with finite element models. The main conclusion from this work is that the altered microstructure of the FCL (fiber alignment) can alter the motions of the macrostructure (the kinematics of the spine).The research described here is a step in the direction to better understanding the development of the low back pain due to the lumbar FCLs.