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Updated: Aug 12, 2025
Three-dimensional Navigation-guided, Prone, Single-position, Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion Technique
Published on: July 15, 2021
Biomechanical evaluation of different sizes of 3D printed cage in lumbar interbody fusion-a finite element analysis
Jincheng Wu1, Qing Feng1, Dongmei Yang2
1Department of Spine Surgery, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin University, Jiefangnanlu 406, Hexi District, Tianjin, China.
Objective:
To study the biomechanical characteristics of various tissue structures of different sizes of 3D printed Cage in lumbar interbody fusion.
Methods:
A finite element model of normal spine was reconstructed and verified. Pedicle screws and Cage of different sizes were implanted in the L4/5 segment to simulate lumbar interbody fusion. The range of motion of the fixed and cephalic adjacent segment, the stress of the screw-rod system, the stress at the interface between cage and L5 endplate, and intervertebral disc pressure of the adjacent segment were calculated and analyzed.
Results:
The range of motion and intervertebral disc pressure of the adjacent segment of each postoperative model were larger than those of the intact model, but there was not much difference between them. The stress of cage-endplate interface was also larger than that of the intact model. However, the difference is that the stress of the endplate and the screw-rod system has a tendency to decrease with the increase of the axial area of cage.
Conclusions:
Cage with larger axial area in lumbar interbody fusion can reduce the stress of internal fixation system and endplate, but will not increase the range of motion and intervertebral disc pressure of adjacent segment. It has a certain effect in preventing the cage subsidence, internal fixation system failure and screw rod fracture.
