European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society
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Instrumentation of the lumbar spine is a common procedure for treating pathologic conditions. Studies have revealed the risks of pathologies in the adjacent segments, with the incidence rate being up to 36.1%. Revision procedures are often required, including extension of the instrumentation by the use of connectors to adjacent levels. The aim of this study was to determine the stiffness of side-to-side and end-to-end connectors for comparison with the use of continuous rods. ⋯ From a biomechanical viewpoint, the tested connectors are comparable to continuous rods in terms of ROM and NZ. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.