• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.303-307
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• 2008

Objective: The authors reviewed clinical and radiological outcomes in patients with three column injury of the cervical spine who had undergone posterior cervical fixation using Nitinol shape memory alloy loop in the anterior-posterior combined approach. Materials: Nine patients were surgically treated with anterior cervical fusion using an iliac bone graft and dynamic plate-screw system, and the posterior cervical fixation using Nitinol shape memory loop ($Davydov^{TM}$) at the same time. A retrospective review was performed. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Frankel grading method. We reviewed the radiological parameters such as bony fusion rate, height of iliac bone graft strut, graft subsidence, cervical lordotic angle, and instrument related complication. Results: Single-level fusion was performed in five patients, and two-level fusion in four. Solid bone fusion was presented in all cases after surgery. The mean height of graft strut was significantly decreased from $20.46{\pm}9.97mm$ at immediate postoperative state to $18.87{\pm}8.60mm$ at the final follow-up period (p<0.05). The mean cervical lordotic angle decreased from $13.83{\pm}11.84^{\circ}$ to $11.37{\pm}6.03^{\circ}$ at the immediate postoperative state but then, increased to $24.39{\pm}9.83^{\circ}$ at the final follow-up period (p<0.05). There were no instrument related complications. Conclusion: We suggest that the posterior cervical fixation using Nitinol shape memory alloy loop may be a simple and useful method, and be one of treatment options in anterior-posterior combined approach for the patients with the three column injury of the cervical spine.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.6
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• pp.611-619
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• 2017

Objective : In addition to bone bridging inside a cage or graft (intragraft bone bridging, InGBB), extragraft bone bridging (ExGBB) is commonly observed after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) with a stand-alone cage. However, solid bony fusion without the formation of ExGBB might be a desirable condition. We hypothesized that an insufficient contact area for InGBB might be a causative factor for ExGBB. The objective was to determine the minimal area of InGBB by finite element analysis. Methods : A validated 3-dimensional, nonlinear ligamentous cervical segment (C3-7) finite element model was used. This study simulated a single-level ACDF at C5-6 with a cylindroid interbody graft. The variables were the properties of the incorporated interbody graft (cancellous bone [Young's modulus of 100 or 300 MPa] to cortical bone [10000 MPa]) and the contact area between the vertebra and interbody graft (Graft-area, from 10 to $200mm^2$). Interspinous motion between the flexion and extension models of less than 2 mm was considered solid fusion. Results : The minimal Graft-areas for solid fusion were $190mm^2$, $140mm^2$, and $100mm^2$ with graft properties of 100, 300, and 10000 MPa, respectively. The minimal Graft-areas were generally unobtainable with only the formation of InGBB after the use of a commercial stand-alone cage. Conclusion : ExGBB may be formed to compensate for insufficient InGBB. Although various factors may be involved, solid fusion with less formation of ExGBB may be achieved with refinements in biomaterials, such as the use of osteoinductive cage materials; changes in cage design, such as increasing the area of polyetheretherketone or the inside cage area for bone grafts; or surgical techniques, such as the use of plate/screw systems.