Vertebroplasty reduces progressive ׳creep’ deformity of fractured vertebrae

Abstract Elderly vertebrae frequently develop an “anterior wedge” deformity as a result of fracture and creep mechanisms. Injecting cement into a damaged vertebral body (vertebroplasty) is known to help restore its shape and stiffness. We now hypothesise that vertebroplasty is also effective in redu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of biomechanics 2016-04, Vol.49 (6), p.869-874
Main Authors: Luo, J, Pollintine, P, Annesley-Williams, D.J, Dolan, P, Adams, M.A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Biomechanical Phenomena
Bone
Bone density
Cement
Creep
Deformity
Experiments
Fractures
Humans
Hypotheses
Lumbar Vertebrae - pathology
Medical research
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Posture
Pressure
Spinal Fractures - surgery
Thoracic Vertebrae - pathology
Vertebra
Vertebrae
Vertebroplasty
Weight-Bearing
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Summary:Abstract Elderly vertebrae frequently develop an “anterior wedge” deformity as a result of fracture and creep mechanisms. Injecting cement into a damaged vertebral body (vertebroplasty) is known to help restore its shape and stiffness. We now hypothesise that vertebroplasty is also effective in reducing subsequent creep deformations. Twenty-eight spine specimens, comprising three complete vertebrae and the intervening discs, were obtained from cadavers aged 67–92 years. Each specimen was subjected to increasingly-severe compressive loading until one of its vertebrae was fractured, and the damaged vertebral body was then treated by vertebroplasty. Before and after fracture, and again after vertebroplasty, each specimen was subjected to a static compressive force of 1 kN for 1 h while elastic and creep deformations were measured in the anterior, middle and posterior regions of each adjacent vertebral body cortex, using a 2D MacReflex optical tracking system. After fracture, creep in the anterior and central regions of the vertebral body cortex increased from an average 4513 and 885 microstrains, respectively, to 54,107 and 34,378 microstrains (both increases: P
ISSN:0021-9290
1873-2380
DOI:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2015.09.006