Facet joint contact pressure is not significantly affected by ProDisc cervical disc arthroplasty in sagittal bending: a single-level cadaveric study

Background context

Total disc arthroplasty is a motion-preserving spinal procedure that has been investigated for its impact on spinal motions and adjacent-level degeneration. However, the effects of disc arthroplasty on facet joint biomechanics remain undefined despite the critical role of these posterior elements on guiding and limiting spinal motion.

Purpose

The goal was to measure the pressure in the facet joint in cadaveric human cervical spines subjected to sagittal bending before and after implantation of the ProDisc-C (Synthes Spine Company, L.P, West Chester, PA, USA).

Study design

A biomechanical study was performed using cadaveric human cervical spines during sagittal bending in the intact and implanted conditions.

Methods

Seven C2–T1 osteoligamentous cadaveric cervical spines were instrumented with a transducer to measure the C5–C6 facet pressure profiles during physiological sagittal bending, before and after implantation of a ProDisc-C at that level. Rotations of the index segment and global cervical spine were also quantified.

Results

The mean C5–C6 range of motion significantly increased (p=.009) from 9.6°±5.1° in the intact condition to 16.2°±3.6° after implantation. However, despite such changes in rotation, there was no significant difference in the facet contact pressure during extension between the intact (64±30 kPa) and implanted (44±55 kPa) conditions. Similarly, there was no difference in facet pressure developed during flexion.

Conclusions

Although implantation of a ProDisc-C arthroplasty device at the C5–C6 level increases angular rotations, it does not significantly alter the local facet pressure at the index level in flexion or extension. Using a technique that preserves the capsular ligament, this study provides the first direct measurement of cervical facet pressure in a disc arthroplasty condition.