Biomechanical evaluation of posterior and anterior lumbar interbody fusion techniques. J Spinal Disord 1998 Aug;11(4):328-34
Date
09/03/1998Pubmed ID
9726303Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0031872301 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 57 CitationsAbstract
This study determined the biomechanical differences between anterior and posterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF and PLIF). Ten cadaveric spines were tested. Five specimens had ALIF and five had PLIF at L4-L5. Stabilization was performed with pedicle screws and rods (Cotrel-Dubboset, Sofamor-Danek, Memphis, TN, U.S.A.). Angular motion was measured in flexion, extension, bending, and torsion on the intact, instrumented, and "fused" specimens. Instrumentation alone caused a significant decrease in segmental motion in all loading modes (p < 0.01). After the simulated fusion procedures, all specimens were most stable in flexion, and significantly less stable in extension (p = 0.04). Comparing directly, ALIF was significant more stable in left torsion (p = 0.03) with trends in left bending (p = 0.08) and right torsion (p = 0.07). Thus, from a purely biomechanical perspective, ALIF appears to be slightly superior to PLIF.
Author List
Voor MJ, Mehta S, Wang M, Zhang YM, Mahan J, Johnson JRAuthor
Mei Wang PhD Associate Professor in the Orthopaedic Surgery department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultAged
Aged, 80 and over
Biomechanical Phenomena
Cadaver
Evaluation Studies as Topic
Female
Humans
Lumbar Vertebrae
Male
Middle Aged
Orthopedic Fixation Devices
Spinal Fusion
Torsion Abnormality
Weight-Bearing
