Spine Implants – Materials and Mechanics

Dear Colleagues,

Spine diseases related to the degeneration of bone and soft tissues are a serious source of disability worldwide as they affect a large portion of the population. This results in high care costs for therapy and treatment, especially in Western societies. As such, spine diseases are among the major reasons for work absenteeism and decreases in productivity. The high frequency of these conditions can be explained by the ageing of the population and the prominence of sedentary lifestyles. Intervertebral disc degeneration or ligament hypertrophy, which in the most severe cases can greatly impact people’s quality of life, are among the known risk factors.

This Special Issue deals with the research on implants targeting spine diseases, from intervertebral fusion strategies to disc arthroplasty. This Special Issue is dedicated to the research on the mechanics of these implants and the application of innovative materials/solutions, including in vitro, ex vivo, in silico, and in vivo studies.

Topics of interest for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following: lumbar fusion cages, cervical fusion cages, spinal fixation systems, artificial discs, finite-element modelling of the spine (native vs. degenerated vs. implanted spine), dynamic modelling of the spine (movement with implant vs. movement without implant), and follow-up studies on implanted spines.

Dr. André P. G. Castro
Guest Editor

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