In-vitro biomechanical study of a dorso-lumbo-sacral posterior supple instrumentation with variable section

This study is designed to analyse the behavior, in the sagittal plane, of a complete human dorso-lumbar rachis, made rigid by the posterior instrumentation used for the treatment of scoliosis, on subjects suffering from DMD (Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy). The object of this analysis is to demonstrate the reliability of early surgery made possible by new instrumentation. Close review of the literature shows that the currently used Harrington or Luque instrumentations lead to mechanical complications, especially rod breaking, at the thoraco-lumbar junction. 8 specimens were non-destructively tested in-vitro. Compression and flexion were applied. For each test, rachis movements with and then without instrumentation, and also rod restraints were noted. The results show a linear stiffness multiplied by 8.3 in flexion and 11.6 in extension. The maximum restraint recorded for physiological displacements is 77 MPa. This remains largely under the fatigue-breaking limit of the metal used (stainless steel hammer-hardened 316 L, Young's modulus = 200,000 MPa, Poisson's ratio = 0.21, endurance limit = 350 MPa at 5 x 10(6) cycles). The results of this study encourage us to continue and develop early surgery in children affected by myopathy, with fixation of the complete rachis, including a lumbo-sacral arthrodesis and a supple dorsal part of the mounting, in the sagittal plane.