Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons^™

Mechanical Evaluation Of Pedicle Screw Fixation Of The Lumbar Spine, Ding Lu

Theses

Pedicle screw fixation of the lumbar spine has been reported to increase fusion rates A biomechanical evaluation of four different pedicle screw implant systems, (AO. Rogozinski, TSRH and Wiltse). was performed to compare intrinsic device stiffness under conditions of flexion-compression and forty-five degree off-axis flexion-compression The effect on stiffness of the loosening of device members was also studied. Testing was done in load control using an electrohvdrualic testing machine. UHMWPe blocks are used to simulate the vertebra.

Assuming that stiffness is directly proportional to the probability of obtaining fusion. this study allows the ranking of the systems tested in their …