BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF CERVICOTHORACIC JUNCTION OSTEOTOMY IN CADAVERIC MODEL OF ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS: EFFECT OF ROD MATERIAL AND DIAMETER

摘要

Ankylosing spondylitis is a genetic condition [1] that frequently results in spinal sagittal plane deformity of thoracolumbar or cervicothoracic junction. Generally, a combination of osteotomy and spinal fixation is used to treat severe cases of ankylosing spondylitis to restore spinal balance and horizontal gaze [2]. This study investigates the biomechanics of opening wedge osteotomy at the cervicothoracic junction. Although surgical techniques for traumatic injury across the cervicothoracic junction have been well characterized in the clinical and biomechanical literature, the specific model of instrumented opening wedge ostetomy in autofused ankylosing spondylitis has not been studied biomechanically.