Study design: 6 human cervical spines were tested in vitro in a biomechanical nondestructive set-up to compare different anterior, posterior and combined instrumentations after a corpectomy C4-C6.
Objectives: To evaluate the primary three-dimensional stability of the different instrumentations.
Summary of background data: The clinical results after stabilization of multilevel corpectomies are often disappointing. Higher biomechanical stability could enhance the rate of successful outcomes. The best instrumentation for these high-grade instabilities has yet to be found.
Methods: Six human cervical specimens were loaded nondestructively with pure moments and unconstrained motion at C3/7 was measured. The six specimens were instrumented with each of the following fixation techniques: 1. Cage 2. Nonconstrained posterior screw and rod system with lateral mass (NC-LM) 3. and pedicle screws (NC-P) 4. Constrained posterior screw and rod system with lateral mass (C-LM) and 5. pedicle screws (C-P) 6. Circumferential (C-P and anterior plate) 7. Anterior plate (OAP).
Results: For flexion/extension and axial rotation the circumferential instrumentation showed lowest ROM values, followed by C-P. The use of pedicle screws showed only a lower ROM when using the constrained system. No difference was found between the two screw types in the nonconstrained system. The anterior plating had the lowest stabilizing effect of all instrumentations, except for the cage alone.
Conclusions: Usage of pedicle screws enhances primary stability only when using an constrained screw and rod system. In axial rotation the nonconstrained system showed no distinct difference compared to the intact state, independent of the screw type.