Hettlich, Bianca F.Fosgate, Geoffrey TheodoreLitsky, Alan S.2017-05-022017-01Hettlich, BF, Fosgate, GT & Litsky, AS 2017, 'Biomechanical comparison of 2 veterinary locking plates to monocortical screw/polymethylmethacrylate fixation in the cadaveric canine cervical vertebral column', Veterinary Surgery, vol. 46, no. 1, pp. 95-102.0161-3499 (print)1532-950X (online)10.1111/vsu.12581http://hdl.handle.net/2263/60139OBJECTIVE : To assess biomechanical properties of 2 veterinary locking plates and compare fixation among these plates and monocortical screws/polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) fixation in cadaveric canine cervical vertebral columns. STUDY DESIGN : Biomechanical cadaveric study. MATERIALS : Nineteen large breed cadaveric canine cervical vertebral columns (C2-C7) from skeletally mature dogs were used. A cortical ring was placed as disk spacer at C4-C5 in all specimens. Seven vertebral columns were implanted at C4-C5 with two 4-hole,3.5mm string of pearls plates (SOP) and 6 were implanted with two 6-hole, 2.4mm titanium locking reconstruction plates (Ti recon plate). All screws were placed monocortically. Six specimens were implanted with monocortical titanium screws and PMMA (Ti screws/PMMA), tested as part of a prior study. METHODS : Stiffness testing in 3 directions was performed of the unaltered C4-C5 vertebral motion unit and repeated after placement of the disk spacer and implant fixation. Data were compared using a linear mixed model that incorporated data from previously tested spines (Ti screw/PMMA). RESULTS :: The mean post-fixation stiffness (N/m) and 95% confidence intervals for SOP, Ti recon plate and Ti screws/PMMA respectively were 407 (330,503), 284 (198,407) and 365 (314,428) in extension; 250 (178,354), 147 (106,204) and 311 (235,416) in flexion; and 528 (441,633), 633 (545,735) and 327 (257,412) in lateral bending. There were no significant differences in stiffness increase among the 3 fixation methods within any evaluated measurement directions. CONCLUSIONS : Monocortical fixation with two 3.5mm SOP and two 2.4mm Ti recon plates may offer an alternative fixation to monocortical screws and PMMA.en© 2016 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons. This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article : Biomechanical comparison of 2 veterinary locking plates to monocortical screw/polymethylmethacrylate fixation in the cadaveric canine cervical vertebral column, Veterinary Surgery, vol. 46, no. 1, pp. 95-102, 2017. doi : 10.1111/vsu.12581. The definite version is available at : http://onlinelibrary.wiley.comjournal/10.1111/(ISSN)1532-950X.Biomechanical propertiesPolymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)Monocortical screwsVeterinary locking platesCadaveric canine cervical vertebral columnsDogsMonocortical fixationPostprint Article