A contoured anterior spinal fixation plate

There is a need for a specifically designed plate for anterior fixation of the vertebral bodies, contoured to fit closely around the lateral aspect of the spine and wide enough to allow multiple options for placement of at least three screws in each vertebra. The large-diameter cancellous screws should penetrate the opposite cortex. Existing bone plates are inadequate, because they are too narrow and do not allow positioning of more than two screws in each vertebra. The Biomedical Engineering Department of the National Research Council of Canada designed and tested the plate described in this article, with particular attention to providing smooth surfaces to prevent vascular complications. Three lengths of plates have been developed and are used in the area from T11 to L5, with a specific tapered plate for the L5 area to prevent contact with the overlying iliac vessels. This device should be used for stabilization following corpectomy for tumor, decompression of burst fractures, severe disc degeneration, pseudarthrosis, and the multiply operated back.