An Improved Testing Protocol for Evaluating Anterior Spinal Instrumentation Using Graft Loads in a Single-Level Cervical Discectomy or Corpectomy Model

Anterior cervical instrumentation used in discectomy or corpectomy graft fusion should restore the mechanical integrity of the operated spine and decrease graft complications. For fusion to occur, the spinal instrumentation must load-share with the interbody graft. Recent design changes in anterior cervical plates (ACP) aim to allow motion across the fusion site and load share with the graft [1]. However, existing American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards (F1717-96) for static and fatigue testing of spinal implant constructs in a corpectomy model do not include an interbody graft in the test method [2]. The objective of this study was to develop a non-destructive testing protocol and apparatus to rank the static and low-endurance performance of ACP instrumentation in single-level discectomy and corpectomy graft-plate models.