AN IN-VITRO BIOMECHANICAL COMPARISON OF THE OROSCO AND AO LOCKING PLATES FOR ANTERIOR CERVICAL-SPINE FIXATION

The Orosco anterior cervical spine plate (H-plate) and the Morscher AO cervical locking plate (CSLP) were studied to determine their compara tive in vitro mechanical properties in flexion. Human cadaver cervical spines were tested nondestructively in flexion as intact, destabilize d, and stabilized specimens with both implants. Stabilized specimens w ere also subjected to a large angular displacement in an attempt to in duce implant failure. Differences between intact, destabilized, and st abilized specimens were significant for both the CSLP and H-plate grou ps in flexion testing (p < 0.05). Large angular displacement testing r esulted in plate/screw displacement with the H-plate but not with the CSLP. Small angular displacements in flexion was tolerated well by bot h implants, but only the CSLP maintained stability with large angular displacements.