Date of Award

11-23-2009

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Medical Doctor (MD)

First Advisor

Jonathan N. Grauer, M.D.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Study Design. An in vitro biomechanical study. Objectives. The objectives were to: develop a new biofidelic skull-neck-thorax model capable of quantifying motion patterns of the cervical spine in the presence of a halo-vest, investigate the effects of vest loosening, superstructure loosening, and removal of the posterior uprights, and evaluate the ability of the halo-vest to stabilize the neck within physiological motion limits. Summary of Background Data. Previous clinical and biomechanical studies have investigated neck motion with the halo-vest only in the sagittal plane or only at the injured spinal level. No previous studies have quantified three-dimensional intervertebral motion patterns throughout the injured cervical spine stabilized with the halo-vest or studied the effect of halo-vest components on these motions. Methods. The halo-vest was applied to the skull-neck-thorax model. Six osteoligamentous whole cervical spine specimens (occiput through T1 vertebra) were used that had sustained multiplanar ligamentous injuries at C3/4 through C7/T1 during a previous protocol. Flexibility tests were performed with normal halo-vest application, loose vest, loose superstructure, and following removal of the posterior uprights. Average total range of motion (RoM) for each experimental condition was statistically compared (P<0.05) to the physiological rotation limit for each spinal level. Results. Cervical spine snaking was observed in both the sagittal and frontal planes. The halo-vest, applied normally, generally limited average spinal motions to within average physiological limits. No significant increases in average spinal motions above physiological were observed due to loose vest, loose superstructure, or removal of the posterior uprights. However, a trend towards increased motion at C6/7 in lateral bending was observed due to loose superstructure. Conclusions. The halo-vest, applied normally, effectively immobilized the cervical spine. Sagittal and frontal plane snaking of the cervical spine due to the halo-vest may reduce its immobilization capability at the upper cervical spine and cervicothoracic junction.

Comments

This is an Open Access Thesis.

Open Access

This Article is Open Access

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