Anterior spinal instrumentation combining a prosthetic disc nucleus with a flexible stabilization device: Manufacture and use in intervertebral disc repair.

Artificial disc replacement alone is unable to completely cure cervical degenerative diseases; thus, a stabilization device markedly improves patient recovery. In order to meet this requirement, an anterior spinal instrumentation combining a prosthetic disc nucleus with a flexible stabilization device (ASI combining PDN/FD) was developed. An artificial disc was designed and manufactured using polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel (PVA-H) with a repeated freeze-melting technique, and subsequently the dehydration and swelling properties of the PVA-H were investigated. A canine animal model was then used to compare the differences in the degeneration of cervical discs adjacent to the operative segment with PDN/FD against a plate fixation system, without the interferences of brace intensity, which was ensured by pressure monitoring the dog's intervertebral disc adjacent to operative segments. The in vivo results demonstrated a clear decrease in the degeneration of the adjacent disc with the use of PDN/FD as compared with the plate fixation system. In conclusion, PDN/FD may offer a promising method for the treatment of cervical degenerative disease.