Comparison of Two Models to Predict Vertebral Failure Loads on the Same Experimental Dataset

Clinical use of finite element analysis requires validation and reproducibility studies. The current study compared two models of vertebral bodies including endplates, on the same experimental dataset and evaluated the influence of the operator on the failure load. Models used were strongly correlated (R2 = 0.91). The intra-operator reproducibility was 6.4% and 3.5% for each model. Both simulated results were close to experimental results. The differences in performance could be associated to the differences in segmentation process, mesh (hexahedral vs tetrahedral), material representation and failure criteria. Linear analysis did not decrease model accuracy. Comparison with literature for accuracy and precision shows a wide range of values partly related to the different experimental datasets and the different modelling approaches. Models benchmark using the same experimental dataset are needed to go towards clinical applications.