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Development of a system for in vitro neck muscle force replication in whole cervical spine experiments
M M Panjabi1, T Miura, P A Cripton
1Biomechanics Research Laboratory, Department of Orthopadics and Rehabilitation, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-8071, USA. manohar.panjabi@yale.edu
Study Design:
An in vitro biomechanical study.
Objectives:
To develop and evaluate a new in vitro whole cervical spine model that provides to the specimen, in vivo-like mechanical characteristics.
Summary Of Background Data:
In vitro studies of kinematics, kinetics, and trauma using isolated spine specimens (head-T1 vertebra) have usually applied upward force to the head, resulting in tensile spine forces, contrary to the physiological compressive forces present in vivo. Further, the in vitro load-displacement curves have never been compared with the corresponding in vivo data.
Methods:
A novel muscle force replication (MFR) system is presented. It consists of a set of compressive forces applied to the various vertebrae and occiput of a whole cervical spine specimen. Two protocols, with and without MFR, were evaluated using standardized flexibility testing. Ranges of motion (ROM) and load-displacement curves were documented, and contrasted with similar in vivo data.
Results:
Results for the MFR were found to be similar to the in vivo measurements, with respect to the intersegmental and whole neck motions as well as the load-displacement curves, thus validating the MFR approach.
Conclusions:
The new model advances the in vitro testing, which uses whole cervical spine specimens.