title: Evaluation of effectiveness of a facet wiring technique: an in vitro biomechanical investigation.
abstract: The effects of facet wiring procedure commonly used for stabilizing cervical spines after laminectomy or bilateral facet dislocation on the motion behavior of whole cervical spines are investigated using a Selspot II system. A fresh human ligamentous intact specimen was potted at T1/T2 vertebra and clinically relevant loads applied to the topmost vertebra (C2) of the specimen. The resulting three rotational components of each of the five vertebral bodies (C3-C7) were recorded. Specimen was injured to mimic total laminectomies at C5 and C6 vertebral levels and tested again. The injured specimen was stabilized, using a facet wiring construct, across C4-C7 segment before testing for the final time. The injured specimens, compared to the intact specimens, demonstrated an increase in flexion-extension of about 10%. Facet wiring imparted stability to the cervical spine by stiffening segments up to roughly four times intact values.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242.
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Goel
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Y E
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Schulte
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001864:Bone Wires; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007796:Laminectomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D009984:Orthopedic Fixation Devices; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods*