Comparison of porcine and human lumbar spine flexion mechanics*

Summary Animal models have been proposed as an alternative to human spinal specimens for in vitro mechanical testing due to the limited availability, poor reproducibility, high cost, and potential health risk associated with human specimens. The purpose of this study was to directly compare the flexion biomechanics of porcine and human lumbar spines. We determined the range of motion, laxity zone and the stiffness under …