In vitro biomechanical analysis of a new lumbar low-profile locking screw-plate construct versus a standard top-loading cantilevered pedicle screw-rod construct: Technical report

Neil R. Crawford, Şeref Doǧan, K. Zafer Yüksel, Octavio Villasana-Ramos, Julio C. Soto-Barraza, Anna G.U. Sawa, Randall W. Porter, Frederick F. Marciano, Nicholas Theodore

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: A standard top-loading lumbar pedicle screw-rod system is compared with a pedicle screw-plate system with smaller-diameter screws, more medial entry, and lower profile to assess the relative stability, strength, and resistance to fatigue of the 2 systems. Methods: Seven human cadaveric specimens were studied with each surgical construct. Nondestructive, nonconstraining pure moments were applied to specimens to induce flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation while recording L5-S1 motion optoelectronically. After initial tests, specimens were fatigued for 10 000 cycles and retested to assess early postoperative loosening. Specimens were then loaded to failure in hyperextension. Results: The standard screw-rod construct reduced range of motion to a mean of 20% of normal, whereas the screw-plate construct reduced range of motion to 13% of normal. Differences between systems were not significant in any loading mode (P > 0.06). The 14% loosening of the screw-rod system with fatigue was not significantly different from the 10% loosening observed with the screw-plate system (P > 0.15). Mean failure loads of 30 Nm for screw-rod and 37 Nm for screw-plate were also not significantly different (P = 0.38). Conclusion: Posterior fixation at L5-S1 using the low-profile screw-plate system offers stability, resistance to fatigue, and resistance to failure equivalent to fixation using a standard cantilevered pedicle screw-rod system.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)E404-E406
JournalNeurosurgery
Volume66
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Biomechanics
  • Flexibility
  • Lumbar instrumentation
  • Pedicle screw

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Clinical Neurology

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