A biomechanical study on pressure changes of zygapophysial joints after cervical spine anterior operations / 中华创伤骨科杂志

Objective To explore the biomechanical mechanism of long-term complication of cervical spinal operations by measuring pressure changes of zygapophysial joints using pressure sensitive film (PSF) after cervical spine anterior operations. Methods C4,5 anterior discectomy and C4,5 anterior plate fixation were done on 10 fresh adult cervical spine specimens (C2～T1). PSF was put into zygapophysial joints and pressure changes were measured in positions of extension, left/right lateral bending and axial rotation on a universal testing machine. Results After cervical spine anterior operations, pressure of the adjacent facet joints increased. The differences were significant in extension and axial rotation (P