Effect of width of disk fenestration and a ventral slot on biomechanics of the canine C5-C6 vertebral motion unit.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of disk fenestration and ventral slot formation on vertebral motion unit (VMU) range of motion (ROM) and determine the effects of fenestration and ventral slot width on VMU ROM.


METHODS
C5-C6 VMUs from 10 skeletally mature canine cadavers.


METHODS
Specimens were assigned to 2 groups (5 specimens/group). Surgery was performed in which width of a fenestration and a ventral slot was 33% (group 1) or 50% (group 2) the width of the vertebral body. Flexion-extension, lateral bending, and axial torsion ROMs were measured during loading before surgery, after fenestration, and after ventral slot formation. Range of motion was compared within groups to determine effects of surgical procedure on stability and between groups to determine effects of width of fenestration and ventral slot on stability.


RESULTS
For both groups, fenestration resulted in a significant increase in ROM during flexion-extension, compared with results for intact specimens. Ventral slot formation resulted in a significant increase in ROM during flexion-extension and lateral bending, compared with results for intact specimens. Ventral slot formation resulted in a significant increase in ROM only during flexion-extension, compared with results for fenestrated specimens. There were no significant differences in ROM of the intact, fenestrated, and ventral slot specimens between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Analysis of these results suggests that fenestration and ventral slot procedures each affect the biomechanics of the C5-C6 VMU. Width of a fenestration or ventral slot up to 50% of the width of C5-C6 may be clinically acceptable.
Fauber
Amy E
AE
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
Wade
Jeremie A
JA
Lipka
Alex E
AE
McCabe
George P
GP
Aper
Rhonda L
RL
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002102:Cadaver; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*