Biomechanical evaluation of reconstructed lumbosacral spine after total sacrectomy

J Orthop Sci. 2002;7(6):658-64. doi: 10.1007/s007760200117.

Abstract

When a sacral tumor involves the first sacral vertebra, total sacrectomy is necessary. It is mandatory to reconstruct the continuity between the spine and the pelvis after total sacrectomy. In this study, strain and stress on the instruments and the bones were evaluated for two reconstruction methods: a modified Galveston reconstruction (MGR) and a triangular frame reconstruction (TFR). Compressive loading tests were performed using polyurethane vertebral models, and a finite element model of a lumbar spine and pelvis was constructed. Then three-dimensional MGR and TFR models were reconstructed, and finite element analysis was performed to account for the stress on the bones and instruments. With MGR, excessive stress was concentrated at the spinal rod, and there was a strong possibility that the rod between the spine and the pelvis might fail. Although there was no stress concentration on the instruments with TFR, excessive stress on the iliac bone around the sacral rod was more than the yielding stress of the iliac bone. Such stress may cause loosening of the sacral rod from the iliac bone. If the patient were to stand or sit immediately after MGR or TFR, instrumentation failure or loosening might occur.

MeSH terms

  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Bone Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Bone Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Bone Screws
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
  • Humans
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / surgery*
  • Lumbosacral Region
  • Models, Anatomic
  • Patient Simulation
  • Plastic Surgery Procedures / instrumentation
  • Plastic Surgery Procedures / methods*
  • Range of Motion, Articular / physiology
  • Sacrum / surgery*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Stress, Mechanical