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  • Title: Finite element analysis of anterior lumbar interbody fusion: threaded cylindrical cage and pedicle screw fixation.
    Author: Kim Y.
    Journal: Spine (Phila Pa 1976); 2007 Nov 01; 32(23):2558-68. PubMed ID: 17978654.
    Abstract:
    STUDY DESIGN: Pedicle screw fixation (PSF) has been used for the setting of a lumbar interbody fusion. OBJECTIVE: To investigate analytically the effects of additional PSF to the anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) with the cylindrical cages (Ray TFC) in the immediate postoperative state. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: An addition of PSF to the stand-alone ALIF increases segmental stiffness. METHODS: A finite element model of ALIF (L4,-L5) was constructed. Finite element analyses were performed to investigate relative motion and bone stress at the bone-cage interface. The results were then compared with those of the stand-alone ALIF. Bone stress surrounding pedicle screws was also predicted. RESULTS: An addition of PSF to the stand-alone ALIF led to higher segmental stiffness, smaller relative motion, smaller bone deformation, and lower bone stress level at the cage-bone interface. The bone stress level at the interface reduced substantially during extension. The bone stress level at the bone-screw tip interface was much lower than that of the bone-cage interface. The articulating facet had no significant load-bearing capacity because of stiff PSF. Little gap opening at the bone-cage interface was found during a compressive preload over 400 N; an excessive extension without preload caused considerable gap opening. Slip less than 0.15 mm occurred during all the loading modes except axial rotation; an excessive axial rotation caused to slip over 0.15 mm. CONCLUSION: Geometric constraints caused by PSF will reduce substantially the bone stress level and the relative motion, and therefore be more likely to allow bone ingrowth at the bone-cage interface, compared with the stand-alone ALIF. The use of pedicle screw stabilization would have significant beneficial effects on the rate of interbody fusion, regardless of whether ALIF or PLIF was used.
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