Development of an experimental testing protocol to study cervical spine mechanics

An experimental study was performed to determine in vitro the biomechanical end mounting conditions that replicated the in vivo physiologic normal cervical spine motion. The goal standard of motion was replication of movement considered normal by neurosurgeons, physical therapists, and anatomists. Tests were performed on a fresh human cadaveric spine mounted in a programmable testing apparatus. Three different end mounting conditions were examined; motion was limited to the sagittal plane. A PC-based image processing system and video recorder were employed to measure the relative rotations of cervical vertebrae. A combination of translational/rotational motion at the upper mounting fixture and fixed movement at the lower end mounting fixture was found to most closely replicate physiologic sagittal plane motion of the cervical spine. The end mounting conditions determined through this study have been utilized in further studies of cervical spine mechanics