title: Effect of lumbar disc replacement on the height of the disc space and the geometry of the facet joints: a cadaver study.
abstract: In a study on ten fresh human cadavers we examined the change in the height of the intervertebral disc space, the angle of lordosis and the geometry of the facet joints after insertion of intervertebral total disc replacements. SB III Charité prostheses were inserted at L3-4, L4-5, and L5-S1. The changes studied were measured using computer navigation software applied to CT scans before and after instrumentation. After disc replacement the mean lumbar disc height was doubled (p < 0.001). The mean angle of lordosis and the facet joint space increased by a statistically significant extent (p < 0.005 and p = 0.006, respectively). By contrast, the mean facet joint overlap was significantly reduced (p < 0.001). Our study indicates that the increase in the intervertebral disc height after disc replacement changes the geometry at the facet joints. This may have clinical relevance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Marienburgstrasse 2, 60528 Frankfurt, Germany. Kafchitsas@em.unifrankfurt.de
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kafchitsas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kokkinakis
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Habermann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rauschmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001175:Arthrography; D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008141:Lordosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology