Biomechanical comparison of single- and two-level cervical arthroplasty versus arthrodesis: effect on adjacent-level spinal kinematics.

Background Context: The use of motion-preserving spinal implants versus conventional arthrodesis instrumentation systems, which stabilize operative segments, necessitates improved understanding of their effect on spinal kinematics and the biomechanically optimal method for surgical reconstruction.

Purpose: The primary objective of this study was to measure operative- and adjacent-level kinematics after single- and two-level cervical arthroplasty and compare them with those after anterior cervical arthrodesis. A secondary objective was to locate the centers of intervertebral rotation at the operative and adjacent levels after arthroplasty and compare them to those after arthrodesis.

Comparative fixation methods of cervical disc arthroplasty versus conventional methods of anterior cervical arthrodesis: serration, teeth, keels, or screws?

Object: Using a synthetic vertebral model, the authors quantified the comparative fixation strengths and failure mechanisms of 6 cervical disc arthroplasty devices versus 2 conventional methods of cervical arthrodesis, highlighting biomechanical advantages of prosthetic endplate fixation properties.

Methods: Eight cervical implant configurations were evaluated in the current investigation: 1) PCM Low Profile; 2) PCM V-Teeth; 3) PCM Modular Flange; 4) PCM Fixed Flange; 5) Prestige LP; 6) Kineflex/C disc; 7) anterior cervical plate + interbody cage; and 8) tricortical iliac crest. All PCM treatments contained a serrated implant surface (0.

Bioactive titanium calcium phosphate coating for disc arthroplasty: analysis of 58 vertebral end plates after 6- to 12-month implantation.

Background Context: From a biomechanical perspective, the successful outcome of total disc replacement is largely based on the mechanisms of acute fixation obtained at the index procedure and the extent of porous biological osseointegration at the prosthesis-bone interface, ensuring long-term device fixation.

Purpose: The present retrospective investigation quantifies the extent of porous osseointegration in cervical and lumbar disc arthroplasty implants containing a bioactive titanium/calcium phosphate coating.

Study Design: Based on radiographic analysis and quantitative histomorphometry, the study was designed to determine the extent of porous osseointegration and whether osseointegration was affected by arthroplasty implant position.

A comparative biomechanical analysis of spinal instability and instrumentation of the cervicothoracic junction: an in vitro human cadaveric model.

Objective: Stabilization of the cervicothoracic junction is challenging but commonly required in patients with traumatic, neoplastic, congenital, and postlaminectomy conditions. Although extensive research has been performed on stabilization of the cervical spine, there remains a paucity of published data on instrumentation at the cervicothoracic junction. Using 2-column, 3-column, and corpectomy instability models, a biomechanical analysis was performed on the effects of increasing the number of posterior segmental fixation points and/or anterior column reconstruction at the cervicothoracic junction.

A comparison of retraction pressure during anterior cervical plate surgery and cervical disc replacement: a cadaveric study.

Background Context: Dysphagia is a well-recognized complication after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, observed in as high as 50% of cases by videofluoroscopic evaluation postoperatively. Esophageal injury due to surgical retraction is a complication due to which swallowing difficulties may ensue. There are limited published data evaluating the effect of soft tissue retraction on intraesophageal pressures during anterior cervical instrumentation procedures.