Biomechanical evaluation of modified and traditional cortical bone trajectory technique on adjacent segment degeneration in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion—finite element analysis

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Modified cortical bone trajectory (MCBT) technique was proposed by our team in previous studies, but its biomechanical properties at adjacent segments have not been discussed yet. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the biomechanical properties of modified cortical bone trajectory (MCBT) technique on adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) in transforaminal intradiscal lumbar disc fusion (TLIF) compare to traditional bone trajectory (TT) technique and cortical bone trajectory (CBT) technique. Methods The four human cadaveric lumbar specimens were provided by the anatomy teaching and research department of Xinjiang Medical University and four intact finite element models of the L1-S1 segment were generated. For each of these, three transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion procedures with three different fixation techniques were reconstructed at the L4-L5 segment, as follows: TT-TT (TT at both L4 and L5 segments), CBT-CBT (CBT at both L4 and L5 segments), MCBT-MCBT (MCBT at both L4 and L5 segments). The range of motion and von Mises stress of the intervertebral disc of the L3-L4 and L5-S1 segments were recorded with a 400N compressive load and 7.5 Nm moments in flexion, extension, left–right bending, and left–right rotation. Results The peak ROM of the L3-L4 segment in the MCBT-MCBT group was reduced by 10.5%, 6.1%, 12.2%, 4.1%, and 1.5% in flexion, extension, left–right bending, and left rotation compared to the TT-TT group and reduced by 1.8%, 5.5%, 10.0%, 12.8%, and 8.8% in flexion, left–right bending, and left–right rotation compared to the CBT-CBT group, respectively. The MCBT-MCBT group has the lowest peak ROM of the L3-L4 segment in flexion, left bending, and right rotation, the lowest peak ROM of the L5-S1 segment in extension and right rotation, and the lowest peak von Mises stress of the intervertebral disc at the L5-S1 segment in right rotation compared to the TT-TT and CBT-CBT group. In addition, the peak von Mises stress at the L3-L4 segment was lowest and more dispersed in all motions, the MCBT-MCBT group exhibited lower peak ROM of the L5-S1 segment in flexion, extension, and right rotation, and showed lower peak von Mises stress of the disc at the L5-S1 segment in flexion, extension, and right rotation compared with the TT-TT group. Conclusion The modified cortical bone trajectory technique may have a beneficial effect on reducing the incidence of ASD in the L4-L5 TLIF model compared to the traditional bone trajectory technique and cortical bone trajectory technique.