Reconstruction of the cervical spine following anterior vertebral body resection: a mechanical analysis of a canine experimental model.

In some quadriplegic patients whose acute spinal injury consists of a vertebral body fracture with bony retropulsion anteriorly and ligamentous damage posteriorly, it is appropriate to perform a decompression of the injured spinal cord by excision of the fractured body. Reconstruction of such a spine to achieve immediate and ultimate stability can be quite difficult. This is a report of mechanical testing using a canine in vitro experimental model to simulate different general types of reconstruction systems applicable to the spine destabilized as above. The results explain some of the previously noted failures of the traditional anterior strut grafting procedures. In addition, one of the reconstruction systems tested (anterior and posterior tension bands compressing an anterior strut graft into place) appeared to have sufficient immediate stability to eliminate the need for a halo-vest in the postoperative period. If such a reconstruction system were to prove clinically applicable, it would be quite beneficial to the quadriplegic patient in his rehabilitation.