Spinal metastatic disease can result in burst fracture and neurologic compromise. This study aims to examine the effects of tumour location, shape and surface texture on burst fracture risk in the metastatic spine using a parametric poroelastic finite element model. Tumours were found to be most hazardous in the posterior region of the vertebral body, whereas the multiple tumour scenarios reduced risk. Tumour shape may affect the mechanism of burst fracture. Serrated and smooth outer tumour surfaces yielded similar trends. These results can be used to improve guidelines for burst fracture risk assessment in patients with spinal metastases. This study aims to examine the effects of tumour location, shape and surface texture on burst fracture risk in the metastatic spine. Both tumour location and shape are important factors in assessing the risk of burst fracture in the meta-static spine. Improving risk prediction may reduce burst fracture in patients with spinal metastases. Vertebral bulge increased over 30% when the tumour was moved posteriorly. Conversely, for the multi-tumour scenarios, vertebral bulge and axial displacement decreased by 41% and 35% in comparison to a single central tumour. Anterior and lateral movement demonstrated only small effects. Vertebral bulge increased proportionally to mediolateral tumour length and axial displacement increased proportionally to superior-inferior tumour length. Similar trends were seen with smoothed and serrated tumour surfaces. Using a parametric poroelastic finite element model of a metastaticaly involved T7 spinal motion segment, fourteen single and two multi-tumour scenarios were analyzed, each comprising approximately 24% tumour volume. Ellispoidal tumours were positioned in central, anterior, posterior and lateral locations. Tumour shape was altered by adjusting tumour radii for a centrally located tumour. Tumours were modeled using smoothed and serrated outer surface configurations. Burst fracture risk was assessed by measuring maximum vertebral bulge and axial displacement under load. Tumours were found to be most hazardous in the posterior region of the vertebral body, whereas the multi-tumour scenarios reduced risk. Modeling of tumour surface texture did not impact shape or location effects. Tumour shape may affect the mechanism of burst fracture.
