Effects of cervical arthroplasty on neck response during a simulated rotary-wing aircraft impact

A computational finite element analysis was performed to evaluate the effects of C5-6 cervical total disc replacement (CTDR) on cross-sectional neck loading and cervical spine kinematics during a simulated rotary-wing aircraft ground impact. The neck of a human body finite element model was modified to include a C5-6 interbody arthroplasty with either a Prestige ST or ProDisc-C CTDR. The adjacent-level, cross-sectional loading for the C5-6 segment was not greatly altered by the CTDRs, as indicated by CORrelation and Analysis (CORA) ratings of 0.988 for the Prestige ST and 0.909 for the ProDisc-C. The CTDRs increased the interbody range of motion, altering both the interbody and cervical facet loading. While the facet capsules experienced increased tension in both CTDR simulations, established injury threshold levels were not reached. Overall, cervical arthroplasty at the C5-6 level did not appear to have a deleterious effect on the dynamic neck response during a simulated rotary-wing aircraft impact.