The authors present and discuss the results of a biomechanical, radiographic and anatomical analysis of 20 specimens, obtained from human cadaver of cervical spine submitted to C5 corpectomy, adjacent discectomy and stabilization with fibular graft. The flexion tests were carried out in the Test Universal Machine. Fracture or graft extrusion was not observed. Mechanical failure was observed in the vertebral body-fibular graft interface, characterized by fracture of the adjacent vertebral bodies in 11 experiments and depression of the cancellous bone in nine. The posterior longitudinal ligament and the posterior ligamental complex were not injured in any of the specimens. The authors concluded that, in an experimental study, the fibular graft is resistant and provides immediate stability to the cervical spine when submitted to flexion load.
Biomechanics; cervical spine; fibular graft
