OBJECTIVETo study the effect of allograft compound vertebra on vertebral reconstruction in rabbits so as to provide biomechanical direction for manufacturing and selecting vertebral reconstruction materials.

METHODSTwenty-five healthy New Zealand white rabbits were divided randomly into three groups: normal group (Group A, n equal to 5),iliac bone graft group (Group B, n equal to 10) and allograft compound vertebra group (Group C, equal to 10). After C4 was resected, iliac bone implantation and allograft bone cage transplantation were fulfilled in Group B and Group C, respectively. Every 5 rabbits from Group B and Group C were selected to test the biomechanical strength and biological activity one and two months postoperatively.

RESULTSNo significant statistical difference was found between Group A and Group C one and two months postoperatively (P larger than 0.05). The biomechanical strength of Group B was much weaker than that of Group A and Group C one month postoperatively (P less than 0.05), but at two months postoperatively, no statistical difference was found among the three groups. The biological activity and vertebral moulding ability of Group C were better than those of Group B at one and two months postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONSCompound vertebra, which is made up of allograft cortical bone cage and autogenous cancellous bone, shows instantaneous and permanent biomechanical stability and biological activity, therefore, it is an ideal material for vertebral reconstruction.