The Effects Of Posterior Fixation On Internal Intervertebral Disc Mechanics

Abstract

Posterior fixation of intervertebral discs is used to treat, and occasionally diagnose, discogenic pain since it is thought that it will reduce the internal loading of the discs in vitro. We measured the internal loading of ten intervertebral discs using stress profilometry under simulated physiological loads and then after posterior fixation. Partial discectomies were performed to simulate advanced disc degeneration and the sequence repeated.