A novel lateral lumbar integrated plate-spacer interbody implant: in vitro biomechanical analysis

Lateral spacers (LSs) are the standard of care for a lateral lumbar interbody fusion. However, various types of fixation, such as bilateral pedicle screws (BPSs), unilateral pedicle screws (UPSs), bilateral facet screws (BFSs), and lateral plates (LPs) have been reported to increase the stability of LSs. The biomechanics of a novel lateral interbody implant, which is an interbody spacer with an integrated plate and two bone screws (lateral integrated plate-spacer [IPS-L]), has not been investigated yet.

To compare the biomechanical stability of IPS-L and LS with and without supplemental instrumentation.

Human lumbar cadaveric study evaluating the biomechanical stability of an IPS-L.

Each of the six (L2-L5) spines was sequentially tested in intact; IPS-L; IPS-L+UPS; IPS-L+BPS; IPS-L+BFS; LS+BFS; LS+UPS; LS+BPS; LS; and LS+LP, using a load-control protocol in which a ±8 Nm moment was applied, for three cycles each, in flexion-extension (FE), lateral bending (LB), and axial rotation (AR). Data results were obtained from the third cycle.

The IPS-L construct significantly reduced the range of motion (ROM) by 75% in FE, 70% in LB, and 57% in AR, compared with intact. Lateral integrated plate-spacer demonstrated similar biomechanical stability as LS+LP, and higher stability than the LS-alone construct, but the difference was not statistically significant.

The IPS-L evaluated in the present study demonstrated equivalent biomechanical stability compared with standard lateral interbody fusion constructs. The addition of BPSs to the IPS-L showed significant reduction in ROM in FE, and the addition of BFSs showed significant reduction in ROM in FE and AR, compared with the integrated plate-spacer alone construct. The IPS-L with supplemental fixation may be a viable option for lateral interbody fusion. Long-term clinical studies are further required to confirm these results.