INITIAL OBSERVATIONS IN THE VALIDATION OF A HYBRID TEST PROTOCOL FOR MOTION PRESERVATION DEVICES ON A BIOMECHANICAL SPINE TESTER

摘要

Motion preservation of the cervical spine has been attractive from several vantage points. Clinically, the ability to limit adjacent level disease has been an important consideration. In addition, the cervical loading conditions may not be as demanding compared to other spinal segments, e.g., the lumbar region. Thus, devices that are designed to preserve motion for the cervical spine are widely perceived as promising technologies and require new methods of evaluation in order to more accurately predict clinical performance.