In recent years, lumbar non-fusion as a novel technique of spinal surgery, can reserve the integrated function of intervertebral disc and zygapophysial joint, maintain or recover the segmental movement to a normal level, and have no adverse effect on the neighboring segments. It is possible for the lumbar non-fusion to substitute lumbar fusion, but its application requires a reasonable and perfect verification. The implants’ safety and biocompatibility with the host need further clinical researches for the satisfactory outcomes.

BACKGROUND:Silicon plays an essential role in bone development and bioactive silicate glasses pioneered the current era of bioactive materials. Various biomaterials have been developed based on the biological function of silicon. OBJECTIVE:To explore the biological function of silicon and research process of silicon in biomaterials. METHODS: A computer-based retrieval of CNKI, PubMed, SpringerLink and Elsevier ScienceDirect databases was performed to search the relevant literatures concerning the biological function of silicon and its application in biomaterials. Al data were primarily screened to exclude repeated and irrelevant articles. Literatures about the application of silicon in biomaterials were included. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:A total of 68 eligible English articles are enroled. Silicon plays important chemical and biological roles in bone. Silicon in the extracelular matrix interacts with glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans during their synthesis and form ionic substitutions in the crystal lattice structure of hydroxyapatite. In addition, the dissolution products of bioactive glass (mainly silicic acid) expose significant influence on the molecular biology of osteoblasts in vitro, and can regulate the expressions of several genes including osteoblastic markers, cel cycle regulators and extracelular matrix proteins. Silicon has been proved to improve the bioactivity of numerous materials and do no harm to their mechanical properties and without cytotoxicity.

20?) or vertebral semiluxation and vertebral pathological fracture group (n=14),which was treated with full laminectomy and limited correction with pedicle screw/rod internal fixation system by augmentation and restoration with bone cement in the screw tract; mild coronal plane deformity (Cobb’s angle