Suggested Citation:
Huang, Philbert, Munish Gupta, Nesrin Sarigul-Klijn, Scott Hazelwood (2006) Two In Vivo Surgical Approaches for Lumbar Corpectomy Using Allograft and a Metallic Implant: A Controlled Clinical and Biomechanical Study . The Spine Journal 6 (6), 648 - 658

 Background

Both bone graft and metallic implants have been used in combination with the necessary anterior rod or plate instrumentation to fill the voids left by vertebral body removal, with the ultimate goal of restoring stability. One type of device that has recently been introduced is an expandable titanium telescoping cage that is designed to be used as a strut implant to fill corpectomy defects. The use of these devices has met varying success. Acceptance by surgeons and spine biomechanicians has been limited by clinical failure with subsequent loss of reduction and increase in kyphosis. In order to further improve patient care, it is critical to evaluate the use of these implants through biomechanical as well as other modes of testing.

  Keywords: Spinal disorders, implants, biomechanics, grafts, expandable cages