Threaded interbody fusion cage for adjacent segment degenerative disease after previous anterior cervical fusion

Transdiscal screw fixation is generally performed in the treatment of high-grade L5–S1 spondylolisthesis. The main thought of the study is that the biomechanical performances of the transdiscal pedicle screw fixation can be identical to standard posterior pedicle screw fixations with or without transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion cage insertion. Lumbosacral portions and pelvises of 45 healthy lambs’ vertebrae were dissected. Animal cadavers were randomly and equally divided into three groups for instrumentation. Three fixation systems, L5–S1 posterior pedicle screw fixation, L5–S1 posterior pedicle screw fixation with transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion cage insertion, and L5–S1 transdiscal pedicle screw fixation, were generated. Axial compression, flexion, and torsion tests were conducted on test samples of each system. In axial compression, L5–S1 transdiscal fixation was less stiff than L5–S1 posterior pedicle screw fixation with transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion cage insertion. There were no significant differences between groups in flexion. Furthermore, L5–S1 posterior fixation was stiffest under torsional loads. When axial compression and flexion loads are taken into consideration, transdiscal fixation can be alternatively used instead of posterior pedicle screw fixation in the treatment of L5–S1 spondylolisthesis because it satisfies enough stability. However, in torsion, posterior fixation is shown as a better option due to its higher stiffness.

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Design and Research of Interspinous Lumbar Non-Fusion Device

ASME 2010 5th Frontiers in Biomedical Devices Conference and Exhibition ◽

10.1115/biomed2010-32064 ◽

2010 ◽

Author(s):

Lei Li ◽

Zhaohua Chang ◽

Xuelian Gu ◽

Chengli Song

Keyword(s):

Stress Concentration ◽

Vertebral Body ◽

Interbody Fusion ◽

Lumbar Fusion ◽

Pedicle Screws ◽

Adjacent Level ◽

Flexion Extension ◽

Fusion Cage ◽

Adjacent Level Degeneration ◽

Interbody Fusion Cage

Objective: Long term clinical data showed that lumbar fusion for Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) and lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) therapy could change the loads of disc and articular facet and increase the motion of adjacent segments which lead to facet arthropathy and adjacent level degeneration. This study is to design and analyze an interspinous process device (IPD) that could prevent adjacent level degeneration in the LSS and LDD therapy. Method: The IPD was designed based on anatomical parameters measured from 3D CT images directly. The IPD was inserted at the validated finite element model of the mono-segmental L3/L4. The biomechanical performance of a pair of interbody fusion cages and a paired pedicel screws were studied to compare with the IPD. The model was loaded with the upper body weight and muscle forces to simulate five loading cases including standing, compression, flexion, extension, lateral bending and axial rotation. Results: The interbody fusion cage induced serious stress concentration on the surface of vertebral body, has the worst biomechanical performance among the three systems. Pedicle screws and interbody fusion cage could induce stress concentration within vertebral body which leads to vertebral compression fracture or screw loosening. Regarding to disc protection, the IPD had higher percentage to share the load of posterior lumbar structure than the pedicel screws and interbody fusion cage. Conclusion: IPD has the same loads as pedicle screw-rod which suggests it has a good function in the posterior stability. While the IPD had much less influence on vertebral body. Furthermore, IPD could share the load of intervertebral discs and facet joints to maintain the stability of lumbar spine.

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Evaluation of Lumbar Spine Stabilization Using Anterior Interbody Fusion Cage

Advances in Bioengineering ◽

10.1115/imece2002-33013 ◽

2002 ◽

Author(s):

Robert X. Gao ◽

Mathew E. Mitchell ◽

R. Scott Cowan

Keyword(s):

Lumbar Spine ◽

Interbody Fusion ◽

Lumbar Fusion ◽

Healing Process ◽

Spine Stabilization ◽

Anterior Interbody Fusion ◽

Wide Range ◽

Flexion Extension ◽

Fusion Cage ◽

Interbody Fusion Cage

Spinal surgery uses a wide range of instrumentation devices to provide comfort to the patient, stabilize the spine, and enhance the bony healing process after surgery. In order to improve upon the effectiveness of these devices, the interaction between the spine and the implant devices needs to be studied from both medical and engineering perspectives. This paper investigates the effect of an anterior interbody fusion cage on lumbar spine stabilization, by means of numerical analysis using the finite element technique and experimental testing. Specifically, the relative displacement within an intact L4-L5 motion segment has been simulated and measured, under a range of compression, flexion, extension, torsion, and lateral bending loads. Subsequently, the effect of a single anterior lumbar fusion cage implanted into the segment was simulated and experimentally validated, under similar loading conditions. Comparison between the intact and cage-implanted segments indicated varying stabilizing ability of the fusion cage, which is highly dependent upon the cage position and the type of loading.

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