Effects of different instrumentation techniques on anterior column axial loading in bovine spine model (a biomechanical study)

2. SUMMARY: EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT INSTRUMENTATION TECHNIQUES ON ANTERIOR COLUMN AXIAL LOADING IN BOVINE SPINE MODEL (A BIOMECHANICAL STUDY) İbrahim Ekrem DEVSEREN, MD Burst fractures constitute the vast majority of thoracolumbar spine injuries and even they enclose a broader area in the content of current spine surgery literature, there is no consensus on treatment algorithm. Strut grafts are widely used in cases of anterior surgery. Providing appropriate biomechanical state for healing and fusion will result better results and surgical success. We aimed to investigate the effects of different instrumentation techniques on the loading over anterior column in the bovine spine model that was given a standardized biomechanical instability and physiological axial force. Biomechanical tests were performed on seven bovine spines and six of them without any technical problems have been included in the study. To establish an instability model, anterior corpectomy has been performed on each. Weight cell has been used as the anterior strut graft. Different instrumentation techniques were performed and followed by axial force, applied by a pressure device. Measurements by the weight cell were recorded during the pressure steps of 200, 400, 600 and 800 Newtons. Statistical analyses were performed by Mann Whitney U test. Under axial forces, measurements from anterior load-cell strut grafts in cases on which anterior and posterior combined fixation was performed were less than the others and the results were statistically significant. Keywords: Biomechanical instability, spinal fracture, instrumentation, implant