The ability to deliver high quality neurosurgical spine care comprises excellence in clinical care and innovation in basic science research. Science demands high quality, progressive, unique research with translational applications. Society requires ethical, timely treatment of patients. Successful growth in the neurosciences will require that the needs of clinical and scientific applications be met through the development and utilization of translational programmatic research. The study of spinal biomechanics is a prime example of a translational research program.

Spinal biomechanics includes the study of the kinematic response of functional spinal units in response to externally applied forces and moments. This science attempts to reproduce physiologic loading found naturally in the human spine. Manipulations such as flexion extension bending and axial torsion are applied to spine analogs and the effects are quantified in engineering terms. Such results are than clinically qualified in order to establish translational significance. This research is a well accepted means to evaluate spinal implants prior to clinical use. State of the art treatments require sound biomechanical testing and proof prior to their clinical implementation. The Food and Drug Administration requires safety and efficacy studies, which biomechanical testing can potentially partially satisfy, prior to receiving clearance for clinical use or evaluation of all commercialized devices. Furthermore, it allows engineers to evaluate implant systems in order to validate proof of concepts and improve design for new implant technologies.

Lab assistant Jessica Spehar performs a lateral bend test using the Bose Spine Test machine.

The lab has recently designed—and staff is in the midst of validating—a six axis spine test frame with automated follower load capability. In addition, submillimeter optical tracking and fluoroscopy will be integrated into the biomechanical test protocols. Built in collaboration with the Bose Corporation, the automated follower load machine will provide state of the art testing and physiologic like loading to test specimen. Bose has been listed as one of the world’s 50 most recognized brand names and received numerous other accolades for the design and development of their sound systems. The spine tester with automated follower load capabilities follows in this tradition. Other capabilities within the lab include development of spinal cord injury models based on the electroforce motor platform indenter. Again, Bose technology provides new methods for scientific study. The magnetic coil technology provides a truly frictionless means for creating precision damage models. Also vertebral strength assessment through compression tests, and imaging changes attributed to senescence are active areas of research.

Additionally, efforts will focus on education involving research projects designed for many levels of backgrounds and interests. Currently, undergraduate level, residency and foreign research scholars have research projects underway with the laboratory.

The requirements of these diverse research interests have also encompassed a number of departments including the McGowan Center for Regenerative Medicine, the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and the Carnegie Mellon University Bone Biology Laboratory. These collaborative efforts allow us to undertake the extremely challenging animal and cadaveric studies that have become a necessity for FDA approval, while providing educational and research project support for many of the major disciplines at the University of Pittsburgh.

Perhaps most importantly, appropriate and well-defined biomechanical studies add to an expanding body of academic literature and a greater understanding of this basic science. Direct translational research is accomplished through this testing with an eye toward the development of materials and instruments with clinical applications.