Posterior bone graft in lumbar spine surgery reduces the stress in the screw-rod system- A finite element study

Abstract Purpose Analyze the biomechanical effect of postero-lateral instrumentation with and without posterior bone graft as well as effect of consolidation of the graft. Study objectives are (1) whether bone graft alone will provide enough additional strength to the weakened spine, (2) how the addition of posterior bone graft help in extending the life of the fusion construct, and (3) compare the effect of gradual consolidation of the bone-graft on the spine biomechanics. Methods A lumbar spine finite element model was used to analyze the effects of bone-graft alone and varying grades of bone-graft consolidation with postero-lateral instrumentation on spine biomechanics. The spine stiffness and stresses in the posterior rods and screws were determined for moments applied in the three physiological directions in addition to pre-load. Results Stiffness of a normal lumbar spine with a solid consolidated posterior bone graft was found to be 10 times that of an intact lumbar spine. Posterior instrumentation further increased the spine stiffness by 20 fold. A 50% solid consolidation of the graft reduced the screw-rod maximum von-Mises stress by 45% and a 65% reduction in screw-rod stress was calculated with completely fused graft. Conclusion A fused graft with posterior instrumentation provided a 200 fold increase in stiffness of an intact spine while producing stress shielding to the Ti rod-screw system. Considerable reduction of the maximum von-Mises stresses in the postero-lateral rod and screw fusion system (65%) will contribute to prevention of implant failure under repetitive loading highlighting the importance of consolidation of posterior bone-graft.