Development of a 4-axis load cell used for lumbar interbody load measurements

Numerous studies have assessed lumbar interbody fusion, but little data from direct interbody load measurements exists. This manuscript describes an interbody fusion cage with integrated 4-axis load cell that can simulate implant heights of 13, 15, 17, 19 and 21 mm. The calibrated load cell was accurate to within 7.9% for point compressive loads over the central 8 mm × 8 mm region, but up to 26.8% for eccentric loads on the outer 16 mm × 16 mm rim of the device (although typically errors were less than half). Anterior–posterior shear and lateral shear loads did not affect compressive load measurement (<1.0% and <3.5%, respectively). Moments calculated from 4 load sensing corner pillars demonstrated errors below 2.3% in lateral bending and 2.1% in flexion-extension. Although this device does not have the accuracy of other much larger corpectomy implants, it incorporates four channels of load and simulates multiple implant heights, making for a favorable comparison in this restricted space. This device has immediate use in cadaveric testing, providing data previously not attainable, and serves as a novel technological step towards an implantable interbody device with multi-axis load sensing capability. As per the authors’ knowledge, no such device has previously been described.