title: The implantation of a Nickel-Titanium shape memory alloy ameliorates vertebral body compression fractures: a cadaveric study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of a Nickel-Titanium (Ni-Ti) shape memory alloy in the treatment of vertebral body compression fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  The experimental thoracic-lumbar fracture units were made with adult human fresh-frozen vertebral specimens. A total of 30 fresh-frozen vertebral units were randomly assigned to 3 experimental groups: control group, percutaneous kyphoplasty group (PKP group), and percutaneous Ni-Ti shape memory alloys implant group (Ni-Ti implant group). Vertebral height and ultimate compression load of the vertebral body before and after procedures were measured to determine the restoration of vertebral heights and compressive strength, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Ni-Ti implant group achieved a vertebrae endplate reduction effect comparable to the PKP group. The vertebral height of the PKP group was restored from 2.01±0.21 cm to 2.27±0.18 cm after procedure, whereas that of the Ni-Ti implant group was restored from 2.00±0.18 cm to 2.31±0.17 cm. The ultimate loads of the vertebrae body of the PKP and the Ni-Ti implant groups were 2880.75±126.17 N and 2888.00±144.69 N, respectively, both of which were statistically significantly higher than that of the control group (2017.17±163.71 N). There was no significant difference in ultimate compression load of vertebrae body between the Ni-Ti implant and PKP groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The implantation of Ni-Ti shape memory alloys of vertebral body induced effective endplate reduction, restored vertebral height, and provided immediate biomechanical spinal stability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Rui Jin Hospital, The School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics Shanghai 200025, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Rui Jin Hospital, The School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics Shanghai 200025, China.
authors.forename: Yue-Huang
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Rui Jin Hospital, The School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics Shanghai 200025, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Rui Jin Hospital Lu Wan Branch, The School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University Shanghai 200025, China.
authors.forename: Chang-Hui
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Rui Jin Hospital Lu Wan Branch, The School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University Shanghai 200025, China.
authors.forename: Jiong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Rui Jin Hospital, The School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics Shanghai 200025, China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Pudong Hospital Shanghai 201399, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Zhou
keywords: Ni-Ti shape memory alloys; Osteoporosis; endplate reduction; ultimate load