Biomechanical Changes of the Lumbar Segment after Total Disc Replacement : Charite®, Prodisc® and Maverick® Using Finite Element Model Study

Abstract

Under the flexion load, three types of the implanted model at the L4-5 level showed the intersegmental rotation angle similar to the one measured with the intact model. Under the extension load, all of the artificial disc implanted models demonstrated an increased extension rotational angle at the operated level (L4-5), resulting in an increase under the facet contact load when compared with the adjacent segments. The increased facet load may lead to facet degeneration.