Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Whether total intervertebral disk or nucleus prosthesis accorded with anatomical characteristics and biomechanics of human intervertebral disk was a focus of recent studies.
OBJECTIVE: To summarize the types and biomechanical characteristics of artificial intervertebral disk and nucleus prosthesis.
METHODS: The first author retrieved Wanfang Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and PubMed Database for literatures published from 1989 to 2011. The key words were “intervertebral diac, nucleus pulposus, artificial prosthesis, biomechanics”. Articles regarding types and biomechanical characteristics of artificial intervertebral disk and nucleus prosthesis were included, and repetitive studies were excluded. Totally 72 articles were retrieved. In accordance with inclusion and exclusion criteria, 26 articles were included.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: At present, materials for artificial intervertebral disk included cobalt-chromium alloy, titanium alloy, stainless steel, ceramics and ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene. Bryan prosthesis was widely used in clinic. In vitro study, three dimensional finite element analysis and clinical study have confirmed good biomechanical characteristics and high success replacement rate. Artificial nucleus pulposus prosthesis contained prefabricated type and in situ polymerization type. It could obtain small surgery injury, and was a focus of recent studies. However, it is difficult to reach biomechanical function of human nucleus pulposus. To discover novel materials and to design individual prosthesis are future development directions.