Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026
Practical Considerations for the Design, Execution, and Interpretation of Studies Involving Whole-Bone Bending Tests of Rodent Bones
Published on: September 1, 2023
[Determination of bone quality before spinal instrumentation--value of different in vivo methods]
M Schwitalle1, P Eysel, A Oberstein
1Orthopädische Klinik, Klinikum der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Mainz.
Objective:
The present investigation should elucidate which assessment technique for bone quality is most appropriate to estimate preoperatively fixation strength of instrumental spine fusions.
Methods:
VDS-screw fixation strength in 50 human cadaveric vertebral bodies was approximated by means of pullout force assessment. Bone quality was assessed by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA), Quantitative Computed Tomography (QCT), MRT and histomorphometry. For each of these techniques, correlation with axial pull out force strength was investigated.
Results:
Highest correlation was found for cancellous bone density (QCT) (r = 0.72; p < 0.001) and DEXA (r = 0.70; p < 0.001). MRT, cortical bone density (QCT) and histomorphometry just slightly correlated with pullout force strength.
Conclusions:
Absorptiometrical techniques like QCT and DEXA are most appropriate to estimate VDS-screw fixation strength preoperatively.
