Biomechanical analysis of a resorbable anterior cervical graft containment plate.
METHODS
A series of in vitro experiments were performed in human cadaveric cervical spines in the normal condition, after discectomy and graft, and instrumented with MacroPore resorbable anterior plates (MacroPore, San Diego, CA). Flexibility, graft containment, and load-to-failure were studied.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the stability, strength, and resistance to graft extrusion provided by the resorbable plate after discectomy and grafting.


BACKGROUND
Metallic plates are known to improve stability after discectomy and graft. Resorbable plates have not been evaluated regarding stability offered or ability to contain the graft.


METHODS
Specimens were loaded using nonconstraining, nondestructive torques to induce flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation. One and 2-level specimens were studied: (1) normal, (2) after discectomy and graft, (3) after resorbable plating with 2 screws per vertebra, and (4) after resorbable plating with 3 screws per vertebra. All specimens were loaded to failure after completing nondestructive tests. Additional 1-level specimens with and without resorbable plate were tested for graft containment using anterior shear force directly on the graft.


RESULTS
The 1-level resorbable plate did not limit motion significantly better than grafted but unplated specimens. However, 2-level resorbable plates allowed significantly less motion than grafted but unplated specimens during all loading modes (P < 0.05). Specimens with resorbable plates resisted graft extrusion significantly better than unplated specimens. With 1-level resorbable plates, 2 or 3 screws per vertebra provided equivalent stability; in 2-level plates, 3 screws provided significantly better stability. Comparison to previous 1-level metallic plate data revealed a significant difference in motion only during flexion.


CONCLUSIONS
The 1-level resorbable plate does not increase stability compared to grafted but unplated specimens and provides less stability than a metal plate, especially during flexion. However, the resorbable plate substantially improves resistance to graft extrusion. The 2-level resorbable plate significantly reduces motion compared to grafted but unplated specimens. When applying a 2-level plate, 3 screws per vertebra are recommended. In a 1-level plate, 2 or 3 screws per vertebra are equivalent.
Ames
Christopher P
CP
Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94122, USA. amesc@neurosurg.ucsf.edu
Crawford
Neil R
NR
Chamberlain
Robert H
RH
Deshmukh
Vivek
V
Sadikovic
Belma
B
Sonntag
Volker K H
VK
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001860:Bone Plates; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D017586:Diskectomy; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators; D007593:Joint Instability; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D008875:Middle Aged; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods