BACKGROUND: Anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion are frequently used in the treatment of cervical spinal disease. However, the range of motion (ROM) of the operative level is unavoidably lost due to fusion. This study aims to establish an anterior cervical corpectomy goat non-fusion model and to evaluate the ROM of adjacent and operative levels.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Six adult-male goats (in vivo group) and twelve adult-male goat cervical spine specimens (randomly divided equally into intact group or in vitro group) were included. The non-fusion model was established by implanting a novel implant at C4 level. Imagiological examinations for the in vivo group were performed to inspect the position of the implant and spinal cord status. Specimens were harvested six months after the operation. Biomechanical testing was conducted to obtain the ROM in flexion-extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation at upper adjacent level (C2–3), operative levels (C3–4 and C4–5) and at C2–5. Specimens in the intact group were first tested as intact and then tested as fixed and became the fixation group.

RESULTS: Imagiological examinations revealed that the position of the implant and the spinal cord status were good. The specimens in the in vivo and in vitro groups had significantly decreased C2–3 ROM, increased C3–4 and C4–5 ROM and similar C2–5 ROM compared with the fixation group.

CONCLUSIONS: This study presents a novel method for potential non-fusion treatment strategies for cervical spinal disease. However, improvement of this model and additional studies are needed.

Keywords: Biomechanical Phenomena, Cervical Vertebrae - surgery, Goats, Implants, Experimental, Models, Animal, Range of Motion, Articular