(Open access funding provided by Semmelweis University)
Szakterületek:
Ortopédia
Orvos- és egészségtudomány
Percutaneous Cement Discoplasty (PCD) is a minimally invasive surgical technique to
treat degenerated intervertebral discs. When the disc is severely degenerated, the
vacuum observed in place of the nucleus pulposus can be filled with bone cement to
restore the disc height, open the foramen space, and relieve pain. This study aimed
to evaluate the foramen geometry change due to PCD, in the loaded spine. Cadaveric
spines (n = 25) were tested in flexion and extension while Digital Image Correlation
(DIC) measured displacements and deformations. Tests were performed on simulated pre-operative
condition (nucleotomy) and after PCD. Registering DIC images and the 3D specimen geometry
from CT scans, a 3D model of the specimens aligned in the experimental pose was obtained
for nucleotomy and PCD. Foramen space volume was geometrically measured for both conditions.
The volume of cement injected was measured to explore correlation with the change
of foramen space. PCD induced a significant overall foraminal decompression in both
flexion (foramen space increased by 835 ± 1289 mm 3 , p = 0.001) and extension (1205
± 1106 mm 3 , p < 0.001), confirming that the expected improvements of PCD show also
during spine motion. Furthermore, in extension when the foramen is the most challenged,
the impact of PCD on the foramen correlated with the injected cement volume.
