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Cyclical Loading to Evaluate the Bone Implant Interface

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Handbook of Spine Technology

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Abstract

The goal of in vitro cyclical loading studies in spine biomechanics is to provide empirical data related to the long-term efficacy of spinal implants. Ultimately, these studies are used to determine if an implant has the ability to provide biomechanical stability over extended periods of time until arthrodesis achieves. In these studies, the bone implant interface should be gradually stressed according to physiological loading patterns to determine the rate at which the interfacial strength between the bone and implant degrades. When designed properly, these studies may able be used to determine the ultimate failure load of the bone implant interface. While study design is always an important aspect in benchtop research, the repetitive nature of in vitro cyclical loading studies exacerbates the effects of study design and emphasizes the importance of rigorous planning based on a strong understanding of the boundary conditions. This chapter is therefore focused on the most important aspects of study design surrounding in vitro spine biomechanics including specimen preparation, loading rate, loading magnitude, loading modality, outcome measures, and failure criteria and how they influence the results of these studies.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neuroscience Institute, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Isaac R. Swink, Daniel Diehl, Chen Xu, Alexander K. Yu & Boyle C. Cheng

  2. College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Stephen Jaffee

  3. Louis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Jake Carbone

Authors
  1. Isaac R. Swink
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  2. Stephen Jaffee
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  3. Daniel Diehl
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  4. Chen Xu
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  5. Jake Carbone
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  6. Alexander K. Yu
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  7. Boyle C. Cheng
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Isaac R. Swink .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Allegheny General Hospital Department of Neurosurgery, Mars, PA, USA

    Boyle Cheng

Section Editor information

  1. Allegheny Health Network, Department of Neurosurgery, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Boyle C. Cheng

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Swink, I.R. et al. (2020). Cyclical Loading to Evaluate the Bone Implant Interface. In: Cheng, B. (eds) Handbook of Spine Technology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33037-2_121-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33037-2_121-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-33037-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-33037-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Biomedicine and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences

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