Biomechanics of the Spine encompasses the basics of spine biomechanics, spinal tissues, spinal disorders and treatment methods. Organized into four parts, the first chapters explore the functional anatomy of the spine, with special emphasis on aspects which are biomechanically relevant and quite often neglected in clinical literature. The second part describes the mechanics of the individual spinal tissues, along with commonly used testing set-ups and the constitutive models used to represent them in mathematical studies. The third part covers in detail the current methods which are used in spine research: experimental testing, numerical simulation and in vivo studies (imaging and motion analysis). The last part covers the biomechanical aspects of spinal pathologies and their surgical treatment.

This valuable reference is ideal for bioengineers who are involved in spine biomechanics, and spinal surgeons who are looking to broaden their biomechanical knowledge base. The contributors to this book are from the leading institutions in the world that are researching spine biomechanics.

• Includes broad coverage of spine disorders and surgery with a biomechanical focus
• Summarizes state-of-the-art and cutting-edge research in the field of spine biomechanics
• Discusses a variety of methods, including In vivo and In vitro testing, and finite element and musculoskeletal modeling

Head of the Laboratory of Biological Structures Mechanics, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi,Milan, Italy. Dr. Galbusera has been working for the last 12 years in this field. His experience includes both experimental and numerical investigations, as well as clinical studies in the field of spine surgery. He is author of co-author of more than 70 peer-reviewed publications about the spine. The team includes several researchers and doctors working at his Institute, and colleagues from other Institutions (notably the Ulm University, with which he is actively cooperating).

Prof. Hans-Joachim Wilke is the Co-Director of the Institute of Orthopaedic Research and Biomechanics of Ulm University, Ulm, Germany, where he is responsible of the spine research group. He has been President of the Spine Society of Europe as well as of the German Spine Society, and is currently co-Editor of European Spine Journal for the basic science papers. Besides, Prof. Wilke is the founder and chairman of the Grammer Award for spine research. He has been involved in several large scale research projects funded by the European Commission.