title: Bioabsorbable anterior lumbar plate fixation in conjunction with cage-assisted anterior interbody fusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An in vitro biomechanical study was conducted to determine the effects of anterior stabilization on cage-assisted lumbar interbody fusion biomechanics in a multilevel human cadaveric lumbar spine model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three spine conditions were compared: harvested, bilateral multilevel cages (CAGES), and CAGES with bioabsorbable anterior plates (CBAP), tested under flexion-extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation. Measurements included vertebral motion, applied load, and bending/rotational moments. Application of anterior fixation decreased local motion and increased stiffness of the instrumented levels. Clinically, this spinal stability may serve to promote fusion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Coupled with the bioabsorbability of the plating material, the bioabsorbable anterior lumbar plating system is considered biomechanically advantageous.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, USA.
authors.forename: Denis J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: DiAngelo
authors.forename: Jeffrey L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Scifert
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kitchel
authors.forename: G Bryan
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Cornwall
authors.forename: Bobby J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: McVay
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000368:Aged; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001860:Bone Plates; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015194:Diffusion Chambers, Culture; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011091:Polyesters / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; C033616:poly(lactide)