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Hou X, Tian Y, Xu N, Li H, Yan M, Wang S, Li W. Overstrain on the longitudinal band of the cruciform ligament during flexion in the setting of sandwich deformity at the craniovertebral junction: a finite element analysis. Spine J 2023; 23:1721-1729. [PMID: 37385409 DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2023.06.387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND CONTEXT In the setting of "sandwich deformity" (concomitant C1 occipitalization and C2-3 nonsegmentation), the C1-2 joint becomes the only mobile joint in the craniovertebral junction. Atlantoaxial dislocation develops earlier with severer symptoms in sandwich deformity, which has been hypothesized to be due to the repetitive excessive tension in the ligaments between C1 and C2. PURPOSE To elucidate whether and how the major ligaments of the C1-2 joint are affected in sandwich deformity, and to find out the ligament most responsible for the earlier development and severer symptoms of atlantoaxial dislocation in sandwich deformity. STUDY DESIGN A finite element (FE) analysis study. METHODS A three-dimensional FE model from occiput to C5 was established using anatomical data from a thin-slice CT scan of a healthy volunteer. Sandwich deformity was simulated by eliminating any C0-1 and C2-3 segmental motion respectively. Flexion torque was applied, and the range of motion of each segment and the tension sustained by the major ligaments of C1-2 (including the transverse and longitudinal bands of the cruciform ligament, the alar ligaments, and the apical ligament) were analyzed. RESULTS Tension sustained by the longitudinal band of the cruciform ligament and the apical ligament during flexion is significantly larger in the FE model of sandwich deformity. In contrast, tension in the other ligaments is not significantly changed in the sandwich deformity model compared with the normal model. CONCLUSIONS Considering the importance of the longitudinal band of the cruciform ligament to the stability of the C1-2 joint, our findings implicate that the early onset, severe dislocation, and unique clinical manifestations of atlantoaxial dislocation in patients with sandwich deformity are mainly due to the enlarged force loaded on the longitudinal band of the cruciform ligament. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE The enlarged force loaded on the longitudinal band of the cruciform ligament can add to its laxity and thus reducing its ability to restrict the cranial migration of the odontoid process. This is in accordance with our clinical experience that dislocation of the atlantoaxial joint in patients with sandwich deformity is mainly craniocaudal, which means severer cranial neuropathy, Chiari deformity, and syringomyelia, and more difficult surgical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Hou
- Department of Orthopaedics, Peking University Third Hospital, 49 North Garden Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, China; Engineering Research Center of Bone and Joint Precision Medicine, 49 North Garden Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Spinal Disease Research, 49 North Garden Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Yinglun Tian
- Department of Orthopaedics, Peking University Third Hospital, 49 North Garden Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, China; Engineering Research Center of Bone and Joint Precision Medicine, 49 North Garden Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Spinal Disease Research, 49 North Garden Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Nanfang Xu
- Department of Orthopaedics, Peking University Third Hospital, 49 North Garden Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, China; Engineering Research Center of Bone and Joint Precision Medicine, 49 North Garden Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Spinal Disease Research, 49 North Garden Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Li
- Beijing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Medical Endoplants, Building 1, Yard 9, Chengwan Street, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Ming Yan
- Department of Orthopaedics, Peking University Third Hospital, 49 North Garden Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, China; Engineering Research Center of Bone and Joint Precision Medicine, 49 North Garden Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Spinal Disease Research, 49 North Garden Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Shenglin Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Peking University Third Hospital, 49 North Garden Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, China; Engineering Research Center of Bone and Joint Precision Medicine, 49 North Garden Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Spinal Disease Research, 49 North Garden Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, China.
| | - Weishi Li
- Department of Orthopaedics, Peking University Third Hospital, 49 North Garden Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, China; Engineering Research Center of Bone and Joint Precision Medicine, 49 North Garden Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Spinal Disease Research, 49 North Garden Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, China
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Zhao G, Song M, Duan W, Chen Z, Xue Y. Biomechanical investigation of intra-articular cage and cantilever technique in the treatment of congenital basilar invagination combined with atlantoaxial dislocation: a finite element analysis. Med Biol Eng Comput 2022; 60:2189-2199. [DOI: 10.1007/s11517-022-02596-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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