Back to Case Studies

Romanian Society of Neurosurgery



  • Surgeons at “Prof. Dr. Nicolae Oblu” Hospital and University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iași sought to compare, in the case of single-level disc herniation, the effects of two types of discectomy on postoperative cervical instability.


  • Build high-fidelity finite element models of pre- and post-discectomy spines, simulate the appropriate loading, and evaluate the resulting mechanical behavior.


  • Abaqus showed a significant difference in spinal mobility favoring discectomy without cage fusion over discectomy with cage fusion.

Biomechanical FEA for better patient outcomes

A discectomy addressing disc single-level herniation introduces significant change to a mechanical system, potentially manifesting as decreased stability and range of motion in the spine at the affected area.  A better understanding of this behavior could help inform doctors to make better decisions and improve the quality of life of their patients.  To that end, neurosurgeons in Iași, Romania, teamed up with Caelynx to investigate.

Cervical spine stability after discectomy is evaluated biomechanically by determining the intervertebral displacement, tensions and stresses, that arise from a given application of force — with the right skeletal geometry and accurate material properties, this is an ideal application for finite element analysis with Abaqus.


How did Caelynx accurately model a spine and its biomaterials in Abaqus?  How did we design an effective FEA study on the human body?

Download the full paper to find out.

DLC: Case Study: RSNeuro Direct


How can we help you innovate?

Whether they need software, consulting, or training, companies around the globe partner with us to develop superior products, accelerate their time to market, and lower development costs. What can we do for you?