Abstract
To investigate and compare the biomechanical characteristics of Bipedicular versus Unipedicular Vertebroplasty in cadaveric vertebra
Cadaveric single level vertebra were used to evaluate Bipedicular versus Unipedicular Vertebroplasty as an intervention for vertebral compression fractures
Cadaveric vertebra were assigned to two arms: Arm A simulated a wedge fracture followed by bipedicular cement augmentation; Arm B simulated a wedge fracture followed by unipedicular cement augmentation. Micro-CT imaging was performed to assess vertebral dimension, cement fill volumes and bone mineral density. All augmented specimens were then compressed under a static eccentric flexion load to failure.
Pre and post augmentation failure load and stiffness were used to compare the two groups.
Results suggest, when compared with actual failure strength, that the product of bone mineral density and endplate surface area gave a good prediction of failure strength for specimens in both arms. The mean cement volume fill of augmented vertebral bodies was 22.8% ± 7.21%. The bipedicular group showed a reduction in stiffness but an increase in post augmentation failure load of 1.09. The unipedicular group also showed a reduction in stiffness but showed a much greater increase in post augmentation failure load of 1.68.
Preliminary data from this study suggests there is a significant reduction in stiffness following both bipedicular and unipedicular vertebroplasty. There is a significant increase in failure load post augmentation in the unipedicular group.
