Effect of multiple freeze-thaw cycles on intervertebral dynamic motion characteristics in the porcine lumbar spine.

摘要: Fresh frozen spine specimens are commonly used in biomechanical investigations of the spine. Since many study designs require staged preparation and testing, effect multiple freeze-thaw cycles on motion behavior should be understood. The objective this was to investigate parameters measured during dynamic pure moment loading. Ten porcine lumbar segments were harvested immediately after death potted acrylic fixtures. Specimens tested continuous flexion-extension, lateral flexion, rotation up a limit +/-5Nm. Moment-angular displacement data analyzed quantified including range motion, elastic zone, transitional zone (neutral region) size slope, width hysteresis loop. All at baseline each three subsequent freezing thawing. decreased slope increased flexion-extension bending initial cycle. These not altered cycles. No significant change observed or Although stiffness neutral region thawing did further affect these characteristics. This suggests that obtained from spines which have been thawed times stable freezing.