BACKGROUND:It has become a focus to look for new vertebral body fil ing materials which have the biomechanical property, biological activity and low cement leakage rate.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the biomechanical characters and cement leakage rate of the vertebral bodies implanted with biodegradable reticulated bal oon and calcium phosphate.
METHODS:Thirty-two vertebral bodies from pigs were randomly divided to four groups. For A group, 2.5-3.0 mL polymethacrylate cement was injected into the body through a unilateral thoracic pedicle pathway;for B group, 2.5-3.0 mL calcium phosphate cement were injected by the same protocol;for C group, the biodegradable reticulated bal oons fil ed with 2.5-3.0 mL calcium phosphate cement were implanted;D group, including normal vertebral bodies, was designed as controls. Leakage of bone cement was observed in each group. The load-shift curves were recorded by an electronic universal testing machine (SCHENCK RSA-250).
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The stiffness and strength of A group were significantly higher than those of D group (P<0.05), and the stiffness and strength of B group were statistical y lower than those of D group (P<0.05). The stiffness and strength of C group, otherwise, were similar with those of D group (P>0.05). Cement leakage rate of C group was lower than that of A or B group (P<0.05). Vertebral bodies implanted with biodegradable reticulated bal oons may lead to similar biomechanical characters as the normal vertebral bodies and reduce the cement leakage rate.