Study design: A finite element analysis was used.
Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of using the Ti-24Nb-4Zr-7.9Sn (Ti2448) pedicle screw system to augment single-level posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF).
Summary of background data: The Ti-6Al-4V pedicle screw system increases the risk of adjacent disc degeneration and stress-shielding effect due to enormous rigidity. A titanium alloy with much lower elastic modulus, Ti2448, may help to resolve the complications.
Methods: A finite element model of intact L3-S1 was established and then validated. Single-level PLIF at L4-L5 with or without a supplementary titanium-alloy pedicle screw system was simulated. A pure moment of 7.6 Nm and a 400 N preload was applied to the finite element model of PLIF, PLIF with the Ti-6Al-4V screw system, and PLIF with the Ti2448 screw system in flexion, extension, axial rotation, and lateral bending.
Results: The axial displacement at the fusion level decreased to 64%, 72%, 84%, and 92% of screw-free status in flexion, extension, axial rotation, and lateral bending, respectively, after augmentation of the Ti2448 screw system, which was 1% to 3% lower than the performance of the Ti-6Al-4V system. The angular displacement at the fusion level with the Ti2448 system was similar to that of the Ti-6Al-4V system, only 2% lower in flexion. Compared with the Ti-6Al-4V system, the Ti2448 system suppressed the increase of intradiscal pressures at the upper adjacent disc in all bending directions, but only in extension and axial rotation at the lower adjacent disc; the maximum stress experienced by cages and screws was higher in all bending directions when augmented with the Ti2448 system.
Conclusion: Using the Ti2448 screw system is suggested for augmenting single-level PLIF because it induces less disc intradiscal pressure at adjacent levels and the stress-shielding effect at implant-bone surface with stabilization performance compared with the Ti-6Al-4V screw system.