Intervertebral test spacers and postfusion MRI artifacting: A comparative in vitro study of magnesium versus titanium and carbon fiber reinforced polymers as biomaterials

• Authors: Thorsten Ernstberger , Gottfried Buchhorn , Gabert Heidrich
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Intervertebral spacers are made of different materials, which can effect the postfusion magnetic imaging (MRI) scans. Susceptibility artifacts specially for metallic implants can decrease the image quality. This study aimed to determine whether magnesium as a lightweight and biocompatible metal is suitable as a biomaterial for spinal implants based on its MRI artifacting behavior. To compare artifacting behaviors, we implanted into one porcine cadaveric spine different test spacers made of magnesium, titanium and CFRP. All test spacers were scanned using 2 T1-TSE MRI sequences. The artifact dimensions were traced on all scans and statistically analyzed. The total artifact volume and median artifact area of the titanium spacers were statistically significantly larger than magnesium spacers (p < 0.001), while magnesium and CFRP spacers produced almost identical artifacting behaviors (p > 0.05). Our results suggest that spinal implants made with magnesium alloys will behave more like CFRP devices in MRI scans.

Keywords

EN

Magnesium alloys; Innovative biomaterials; Interbody test implants; MRI artifacting

• Publisher: De Gruyter Open
• Journal: Open Medicine
• Year: 2009
• Volume: 4
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 496-500

Dates

published

1 - 12 - 2009

online

3 - 10 - 2009

Contributors

author

Thorsten Ernstberger

• Center for Spinal Surgery, Klinikum Bad Bramstedt, 24576, Bad Bramstedt, Germany

author

Gottfried Buchhorn

• Biomaterial Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Gottingen, 37075, Gottingen, Germany

author

Gabert Heidrich

• Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Gottingen, 37075, Gottingen, Germany

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Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/s11536-009-0027-4