Faculty Collaboration Database

Finite element analysis of anterior cervical spine interbody fusion. Biomed Mater Eng 1997;7(4):221-30

Date

01/01/1997

Pubmed ID

9408574

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0031304528 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   63 Citations

Abstract

The present study investigated the external and the internal biomechanical responses of anterior cervical discectomy coupled with fusion. Five different types of interbody fusion materials were used: titanium core, titanium cage, tricortical iliac crest, tantalum core, and tantalum cage. Two different types of surgical procedures were analyzed: Smith-Robinson and Bailey-Badgley. A validated three-dimensional anatomically accurate finite element model of the human cervical spine was used in the study. The finite element model was exercised in compression, flexion, extension, and lateral bending for the intact case and for the two surgical procedures with five implant materials. The external response in terms of the stiffness and angular rotation, and the internal response in terms of the disc and the vertebral stresses were determined. The Smith-Robinson technique resulted in the highest increase in external response under all modes of loading for all implant materials. In contrast, the Bailey-Badgley technique produced a higher increase in the disc and the vertebral body stresses than the Smith-Robinson technique. As experimental human cadaver tests can only determine the external response of the non-fused spine simulating immediate post-operative structure, the present finite element studies assist in the understanding of biomechanics of interbody fusion by delineating the changes in the extrinsic and intrinsic characteristics of the cervical spine components due to surgery.

Author List

Kumaresan S, Yoganandan N, Pintar FA

Authors

Frank A. Pintar PhD Professor in the Biomedical Engineering department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Narayan Yoganandan PhD Professor in the Neurosurgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Biomechanical Phenomena
Bone Transplantation
Cervical Vertebrae
Computer Simulation
Diskectomy
Humans
Internal Fixators
Materials Testing
Models, Anatomic
Range of Motion, Articular
Reproducibility of Results
Rotation
Spinal Fusion
Tantalum
Titanium