[Development and application of artificial vertebral body in spinal surgery].
OBJECTIVE
To study the development, investigation, and application of the artificial vertebral body so as to provide an essential reference for the future research and clinical application.


METHODS
The recent articles on materials, types, and clinical applications of the artificial vertebral body were reviewed.


RESULTS
The materials used for the artificial vertebral body were porcelain, alloy, variant bone, and composite. But each of them had its own advantages and disadvantages. The types of the artificial vertebral body were grouped as expandable and non-expandable ones; however, the expandable type was much better. The artificial vertebral body had been applied to the treatments of spinal tumor, tuberculosis, fracture, and infection, with better effects.


CONCLUSIONS
The artificial vertebral body can be extensively applied. However, the materials and types need to be improved.
Lu
Gongbiao
G
First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, Chongqing, 400016, PR China.
Quan
Zhengxue
Z
Jiang
Dianming
D