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THE HARTSHILL HORSESHOE A NEW DEVICE FOR ANTERIOR SPINAL FIXATION

  • N. W. Valentine
  • G. W. Hastings
  • P. J. Sell
  • J. Dove

J Turk Spinal Surg 1990;1(4):176-178

Anterior spinal fixation aims to achieve mechanically and biologically sound fusion between adjacent vertebral bodies. Current techniques are biomechnaically poor, and do not lake account of cyclical flexion and torsion loads which can result in graft extrusion and pseudarlhrosis. We have designed a new device to improve on currently available techniques. The implant is placed in the excised disc space, maintaining the disc height and avoiding the major vessels. 'There is greatly improved torsional satibilty. The bone graft is contained in the centre of the device, and cannot extrude.

The device has been implanted in 12 patients, the longest for 18 months. Initial results are good, with radiological evidence of sound fusion, but the carbon fibre epoxy material has proved to have some undesirable features. We conclude that the basic concept and shape are satisfactory, but that the material is less than ideal. We are currently assessing different materials and fabrication techniques to achieve an implant which is biomechanically stable and has osseo-integrative properties.

Keywords: Discectomy, anterior spinal fusion, carbon fibre.