title: Biomechanical differences of Coflex-F and pedicle screw fixation combined with TLIF or ALIF--a finite element study.
abstract: Lumbar interbody fusion is a common procedure for treating lower back pain related to degenerative disc diseases. The Coflex-F is a recently developed interspinous spacer, the makers of which claim that it can provide stabilisation similar to pedicle screw fixation. Therefore, this study compares the biomechanical behaviour of the Coflex-F device and pedicle screw fixation with transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) or anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) surgeries by using finite element analysis. The results show that the Coflex-F device combined with ALIF surgery can provide stability similar to the pedicle screw fixation combined with TLIF or ALIF surgery. Also, the posterior instrumentations (Coflex-F and pedicle screw fixation) combined with TLIF surgery had lower stability than when combined with ALIF surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheng-Chan
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Kai-Jow
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Zheng-Cheng
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Shih-Hao
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chinghua
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hung
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001863:Bone Screws; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000601:surgery; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D013123:Spinal Fusion