Nitinol Memory Rods Versus Titanium Rods: A Biomechanical Comparison of Posterior Spinal Instrumentation in a Synthetic Corpectomy Model

Abstract

This study provides biomechanical evidence that nitinol rods used in a posterior construct are comparable to titanium rods with regard to compression and have increased torsional failure load and torsional toughness. While nitinol trended toward superior fatigue resistance, there was no significant difference in nitinol versus titanium construct fatigue resistance.