Biomechanical comparison of stand-alone and bilateral pedicle screws fixation for oblique lumbar inter-body fusion surgery – a finite element analysis

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the biomechanical stability and safety in patients undergoing oblique lumbar inter-body fusion (OLIF) surgery with stand-alone (SA) and Bilateral pedicle screw fixation (BPSF). Methods: A finite element model of L4-L5 spinal unit was established and validated. Based on the validated model technique, function surgical models corresponding to SA, BPSF were created. Simulations employing the models were performed to investigate the OLIF surgery. A bending moment of 7.5 Nm and a 500 N follower load were applied to the models in flexion, extension, axial rotation and lateral bending. Finite element(FE) models were developed to compare the biomechanics of the intact group, SA, BPSF group. Results: Compared with the Range of motion (ROM) of the intact lumbar model, SA model decreased by 79.5% in flexion, 54.2% in extension, BPSF model decreased by 86.4% in flexion, 70.8% in extension. Compared with the BPSF, the maximum stresses of L4 inferior endplate (IEP) and L5 superior endplate (SEP) increased significantly in SA model, L4 IEP increased to 49.7MPa in extension, L5 SEP increased to 47.7MPa in flexion. Conclusions: OLIF surgery with BPSF could reduce the max stresses of the endplate which may reduce cage sedimentation incidence. However, OLIF surgery with SA could not provide enough rigidity for the fusion segment in osteoporosis patients which may increase the cage sedimentation incidence. Keywords: OLIF; Pedicle screw fixation; spinal fusion; finite element