BIOMECHANICAL STUDY OF C1-C2 POSTERIOR ARTHRODESIS TECHNIQUES

Fifteen cervical spines from cadavers were used to compare the rotational and translational stability of the Brooks fusion, a fusion construct using Halifax interlaminar clamps, and the Gallie fusion. The Brooks and Halifax clamp constructs exhibited significantly greater rotational and translational stiffness than the Gallie construct (P < 0.001). The Halifax clamp construct exhibited greater rotational stiffness and equal translational stiffness when compared with the Brooks construct (P < 0.05). The Brooks and Halifax fixation constructs provided superior fixation but presented technical challenges. The Gallie construct is less technically demanding but provides less stable fixation.