ABSTRACT

Purpose:

The reconstruction of corpectomy defect is essential to restore biomechanical stability of the vertebral column. This study aims to compare the reconstruction methods made by bone cement and chest tube together with bone cement in terms of stability against axial compressive loading; to make the same experiments by using finite element analysis.

Materials and Methods:

There were 10 sheep lumbar 4-6 vertebral unit in each three group. Group 1 served as control and L5 corpectomy defect was reconstructed with bone cement only in group 2 and with chest tube (silastic tube) and bone cement in group 3. Axial compressive loads were applied to specimens and failure points were recorded. The same measurements were made by using finite element analysis of L4-6 spinal unit by static analysis.

Results:

In vitro failure points were meanly 8490 N for group 1, 3762 N for group 2 and 5788 N for group 3. There were statistical differences between each group (p<0.05). In finite element analysis, the average tension was 200 MPa in group 1, 93.3 MPa in group 2 and 25.2 MPa in group 3.

Conclusion:

Finite element analysis showed the exact effects of axial compressive loadings in two different corpectomy + reconstruction methods. We conclude that finite element analysis can be used instead of the human cadaver studies and provide many different test options by using the same model.