Construction of fresh cervical vertebral artery determination model: Influence of variant positions on vertebral artery flow

BACKGROUND: As a reliable biomechanical model, human fresh isolated cervical specimens provide the basis for studying the pathogenesis of cervical vertigo from the perspective of blood flow of vertebral artery. There is a lack of an in vitro cervical model that can simulate the physiological state of the cervical vertebrae and achieve complex posture, as well as can measure the blood flow of vertebral artery. OBJECTIVE: To study the influence of variant position of human fresh isolated cervical vertebrae on the blood flow of vertebral artery in vitro through constructing the fresh specimen of cervical vertebral artery determination model. METHODS: Six human fresh isolated cervical specimens were selected for constructing the vertebral artery determination model. The pressure of human vertebra artery was simulated by pressure pump. The change of normal saline height was measured by digital motion capture system dynamically under different positions. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Eight vertebral arteries in the six models were in good condition. (2) The vertebral artery flow under neutral position was significantly richer than that under contralateral rotation-anteflexion and ipsilateral/contralateral rotation-postexion (P < 0.05). (3) The vertebral artery flow under contralateral rotation-anteflexion and rotation-postexion was significantly poorer than that under natural position, ipsilateral rotation and ipsilateral rotation-anteflexion (P < 0.05). (4) In summary, the cervical vertebral artery determination model is constructed successfully that can simulate the influence of the position on vertebral artery flow. Additionally, different positions of rotation make a different effect on vertebral artery flow.