title: The current testing protocols for biomechanical evaluation of lumbar spinal implants in laboratory setting: a review of the literature.
abstract: In vitro biomechanical investigations have become a routinely employed technique to explore new lumbar instrumentation. One of the most important advantages of such investigations is the low risk present when compared to clinical trials. However, the best use of any experimental data can be made when standard testing protocols are adopted by investigators, thus allowing comparisons among studies. Experimental variables, such as the length of the specimen, operative level, type of loading (e.g., dynamic versus quasistatic), magnitude, and rate of load applied, are among the most common variables controlled during spinal biomechanical testing. Although important efforts have been made to standardize these protocols, high variability can be found in the current literature. The aim of this investigation was to conduct a systematic review of the literature to identify the current trends in the protocols reported for the evaluation of new lumbar spinal implants under laboratory setting.
authors.affiliation: NeuroOncology Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
authors.forename: Sabrina A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Blohm
authors.affiliation: NeuroOncology Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Doulgeris
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical & Biomedical Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA.
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: NeuroOncology Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA ; Department of Chemical & Biomedical Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Shea
authors.affiliation: NeuroOncology Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA ; Departments of Neurosurgery and Orthopedics, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33613, USA.
authors.forename: Kamran
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5085-8115
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aghayev
authors.affiliation: NeuroOncology Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA ; Departments of Neurosurgery and Orthopedics, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33613, USA.
authors.forename: Frank D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Vrionis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D002985:Clinical Protocols / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000592:standards; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000592:standards*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D000078202:Systematic Reviews as Topic