Mechanical properties of the human lumbar dura mater

Abstract

-Background and objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the transverse and longitudinal distensibility of the posterior human lumbar dura mater. Results are compared with previous literature on biomechanical property studies. Possible clinical implications were also examined. Methods: Samples of human dural sac were obtained from autopsy studies in three adult male cadavers. Dural sac samples were sectioned longitudinally to measure transverse and longitudinal distensibility, thickness and circumference. Results: It was recorded that the posterior lumbar dura mater was easily distensible only in the transverse direction. The longitudinal force required to distend and rupture the posterior lumbar dura mater samples is 3.5 to 6.7 times greater than the force to produce a transversal rupture. Conclusion: Depending on the local cerebrospinal fluid pressure, the documented easier transverse distensibility of the posterior lumbar dura mater may allow greater contact of the lumbar dural sac with the wall of the lumbar verterbral canal. This fact may affect the diffusion of solutions introduced into epidural space.KEY WORDS: dura mater, distensibility thickness, load at rupture, modulus of elasticity, strain at rupture.Little attention has been paid to the elasticity and thickness of the human dura mater. Its elastic property is due to elastic fibers found intermixed with collagen fibers 4 . Collagen fibers are the dominant component found in the human lumbar dura mater 9 . The elastic and collagen fibers are not arranged in an exclusive cephalocaudal direction. It has been shown that both types of fibers are Propriedades mecânicas da dura máter lombar humanaRESUMO -Este estudo procura avaliar as distensibilidades transversal e longitudinal da dura máter lombar na sua porção posterior. Os resultados são comparados com os de outras investigações publicadas sobre as propriedades biomecânicas da dura máter. Métodos: Amostras de dura máter foram obtidas de autópsias realizadas em três cadáveres de homens adultos. As amostras do saco dural foram secionadas longitudinalmente para permitir as seguintes medições: distensibilidade transversal e longitudinal, espessura da dura máter e circunferência do saco dural. Resultados: Foi constatado que a dura máter lombar na sua porção posterior é facilmente distensível. Para distender e romper longitudinalmente esta mesma dura máter, necessita-se de 3,5 a 6,7 vezes mais força do que a necessária para a sua distensão e rompimento na direção transversal. Conclusão: Dependendo da pressão do líquido cefalorraqueano, a fácil distensibilidade transversal da dura máter possibilita maior contato do saco dural lombar com a parede do canal vertebral. Este fato pode influir na difusão das soluções introduzidas no espaço peridural. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: dura máter, distensibilidade, espessura, força para rompimento, módulo de elasticidade.

Histological and biomechanical study of dura mater applied to the technique of dura splitting decompression in Chiari type I malformation

“…The limit between the inner and the outer dural part sometimes appears as a vascular plan (capillary network), but is more often virtual. Previous studies on dura mater in the spinal region 38,48 have shown a well defined structure in two leaflets. We think that the difference may be due to the location, as the posterior fossa is making the transition between cerebral compartment, with a spherical shape, and the spinal one, with a cylindrical shape.…”

Bilayer oxidized regenerated cellulose/poly ε-caprolactone knitted fabric-reinforced composite for use as an artificial dural substitute

“…This could be seen from high degree of lateral contraction which was transverse to the direction of tensile loading of P10 specimen after test. When the PCL content increased (P20-P40), the stretchability of the fabric decreased since the increase in PCL matrix restricted the overall fiber or yarn movement [30] and fiber/matrix debonding became a dominant mechanism resulting in the lower modulus and strength of the samples [31]. The lateral contraction of P20-P40 specimens resulting from tensile loading was evidently lower compared to P10 sample.…”

Finite Element Analysis of Spinal Cord Injury in the Rat

“…Adaptive meshing of the CSF was employed to permit "flow" of material and minimized boundary effects. Limited damage was observed remote from the impact site in the experimental model, which suggested that injury from CSF pressure waves was negligible, and it is doubtful that either assumption significantly limited the model's performance, but we note that a coupled fluid-solid model to account for CSF flow and pressure variations, as well as an anisotropic formulation for the dura mater (Zarzur, 1996), will improve the accuracy of the model.…”