Mechanical evaluation of cross-link designs in rigid pedicle screw systems.
METHODS
This study was designed to evaluate the biomechanical performance of 5 different cross-link brands to determine which design characteristics are biomechanically desirable.


METHODS
The Cotrel-Dubousset, Isola, Puno Winter Byrd, Rogozinski, and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital systems were assembled to vertebral models according to the manufacturer's specifications. Three constructs were tested for each brand of instrumentation: without cross-links, with one cross-link, and with two cross-links. Four modes of loading: axial, torsional, flexion-extension, and lateral-flexion were used. Load-displacement curves were plotted. The stiffness was calculated from the slope of these curves.


OBJECTIVE
Five different rigid pedicle screw systems were tested to determine: 1) what are the characteristics of cross-link design that are most effective in limiting torsional motion; 2) whether two cross-links are more effective than one; and 3) whether cross-linkage increases the construct stiffness in lateral bending.


BACKGROUND
Cross-linkage has been shown to increase the torsional stiffness of rod and screw constructs. Increased construct stiffness has been correlated with higher fusion rates.


RESULTS
Increases in axial, flexion-extension, or lateral-flexion stiffness, with the addition of one or two cross-links, were not statistically significant. In torsional loading, increases in stiffness within brands were statistically significant in every case. The average increase was 44% with one added cross-link and 26% with two. The magnitude of the increase in torsional stiffness was compared with the cross-sectional area of the respective cross-link. Greater stiffness correlated with larger cross-sectional area (r = 0.81 for one cross-link, and r = 0.60 for two).


CONCLUSIONS
The use of cross-linkage in spinal fusion increases torsional stiffness in pedicle screw and hook constructs. This study 1) confirmed the effectiveness of cross-linkage in limiting torsional motion and showed the superiority of two cross-links to one cross-link in limiting torsional motion, 2) showed that increase of torsional stiffness of a cross-linked construct is proportional to the cross-sectional area of the cross-link, and 3) demonstrated that cross-links do not increases stiffness in the lateral flexion mode.
Dick
J C
JC
Orthopaedic Consultants, PA, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Zdeblick
T A
TA
Bartel
B D
BD
Kunz
D N
DN
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001863:Bone Screws; D004867:Equipment Design; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008422:Materials Testing; D008953:Models, Anatomic