Biomechanical Test on Novel Arc Cervical Titanium Mesh with Endplate Ring / 医用生物力学

ABSTRACT

Objective To establish the instability model of goat cervical vertebrae, and test biomechanical stability of the novel arc cervical titanium mesh with endplate ring. Methods The anatomical data from cervical vertebrae of adult goats were measured, so as to select a new type of arch cervical titanium mesh with endplate ring which was suitable for goat cervical vertebrae. A total of 24 goats with preserved articular capsule, ligaments and intervertebral disc were randomly divided into 4 groups. Group A (n=6, normal group) didn’t receive any special treatment, while Group B (n=6, model group) received partial resection of C4 vertebrae as well as upper and lower intervertebral disc. On the basis of models in Group B, Group C (n=6, experimental group) was installed with the novel arch cervical titanium mesh and fixed by plate and screw, and Group D (n=6,control group) was installed with traditional straight titanium mesh and fixed by plate and screw. The ranges of motion (ROMs) for 4 groups of specimens during flexion, extension, left/right lateral bending, left/right rotation under 2.0 N·m load were measured, and their three-dimensional (3D) motion stability was tested. The displacement of Group C and Group D under 200 N compression force was measured, the stiffness was calculated, and the anti settlement ability of the whole specimen was tested. Results The ROMs of Group A in all directions were smaller than those of Group B,the ROMs of Group A were larger than those of Group C, and the ROMs of Group C during flexion were smaller than those of Group D (P<0.05). The stiffness of Group C was higher than that of Group D (P<0.05).The compression displacement of Group C was smaller than that of Group D(P<0.05). Conclusions Compared with the straight titanium mesh, the novel arc titanium mesh is more consistent with the physiological curvature of cervical verebrae, and has better stability than the traditional titanium mesh during the most frequent flexion activities of cervical verebrae. Moreover, compression displacement of the novel arc titanium mesh under short-term stress is smaller than that of the straight titanium mesh, and its postoperative anti-settlement is better than that of the straight titanium mesh, which is worthy of further experiment and clinical promotion.