[Biomechanical analysis of bilateral facet joint stabilization for posterior cervical spine reconstruction with bio-derived tendon in goats].

OBJECTIVE

There is few report on dynamic stabilization for posterior cervical reconstruction. To investigate the biomechanical properties of a novel cervical spine posterior fixation using the bio-derived freeze-dried tendon in posterior cervical spine reconstruction.

METHODS

The palmaris longus flexor tendon and metacarpal extensor tendon were collected from the death donors' stump to prepare bio-derived tendon. Twenty fresh cervical vertebrae (C1-7) were harvested from goats and were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 5): intact group (group A); injury control group (group B); screw-rods fixation group, fixed with screw-rods on C3, 4 (group C); tendon reconstruction group, cross-fixed with bio-derived freeze-dried tendon on C3, 4 bilatera facet joints (group D). The range of motion (ROM) values in flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation were measured.

RESULTS

In flexion, the ROM values of group C were significantly lower than those of the other 3 groups (P < 0.05), and the ROM values of group B were significantly higher than those of groups A and D (P < 0.05). In extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation, the ROM values of group C were significantly lower than those of groups A, B, and D (P < 0.05), and no significant difference was found within the other 3 groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The novel cervical spine posterior fixation using the bio-derived frozen-dried tendon can provide enough stability in flexion motion, but it can not limit the lateral bending and axial rotation motion, which can provide dynamic stabilization in animal model.