Construction of a new cervical anatomically adaptive titanium mesh cage based on measurements of cervical geometry: A morphological and cadaveric study

Abstract

Mismatch between the titanium mesh cage and cervical geometries is an important factor that induces subsidence in anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF). The aim of the present study was to construct a new quadrate anatomically adaptive titanium mesh cage (AA-TMC) that matches well with the cervical geometries and segmental alignment in one-and two-level ACCF. Computed tomography (CT) scans of 54 individuals were used to measure the cervical endplate geometries. X-rays of 74 young individuals were used to measure the intervertebral body angle (IBA) and intervertebral body height (IBH) of the surgical segments. The AA-TMC was designed based on these measured parameters. A total of 18 cervical cadaveric specimens underwent successive oneand two-level ACCF using the AA-TMC. Postoperatively, the specimens underwent CT scanning to assess the degree of matching of the TMC-endplate interface (TEI), IBA and IBH. A TEI interval <0.5 mm was considered well matching. In the sagittal plane, 93.8% of the inferior endplates were arched, whereas 94.8% of the superior endplates were flat. In the coronal plane, 82.9% of the inferior endplates and 93.8% of the superior endplates were flat. A total of 91.7 and 94.4% of the TEIs were well matched in one-and two-level ACCF, respectively. The postoperative IBA and IBH values were consistent with the values of young individuals. The AA-TMC achieved good matching with cervical geometries and segmental alignment in one-and two-level ACCF, and is proposed for use in ACCF to increase the contact at the TEI and achieve sufficient lordosis restoration.