Article

Walking is one of the most important activities in daily life, and walking
exposes the spine to a high number of loading cycles. Little is known about the
spinal loads during walking. Telemeterized spinal implants can provide data about
their loading during different activities. The aim of this study was to measure
the loads on a vertebral body replacement (VBR) during level and staircase
walking and to determine the effects of walking speed and using walking aids.
Telemeterized VBRs were implanted in five patients suffering from compression
fractures of the L1 or L3 lumbar vertebral body. The implant allows measurements
of three force and three moment components. The resultant force on the VBR was
measured during level and staircase walking, when walking on a treadmill at
different speeds, and when using a wheeled invalid walker or crutches. On
average, the resultant force on the VBR for level walking was 171% of the value
for standing. This force value increased to 265% of the standing force when
ascending stairs and to 225% when descending stairs. Walking speed had a strong
effect on the implant force. Using a walker during ambulation on level ground
reduced the force on the implant to 62% of standing forces, whereas using two
crutches had only a minor effect. Walking causes much higher forces on the VBR
than standing. A strong force reduction can be achieved by using a walker.
CI - Copyright (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS