Biomechanical principles of spine stabilization

Understanding the fundamentals of spine biomechanics, both physiological and pathological, is imperative to making appropriate surgical decisions when attempting to stabilize the spine. In this chapter, the basic principles of various subjects, such as spinal anatomy, pathology, fusion, and constructs, are briefly reviewed. There is a specific focus on how these principles affect the thought process evoked when making surgical decisions and how certain techniques should be properly utilized to minimize poor outcomes. A poor understanding of how the spine would respond to each different intervention and treatment could ultimately lead to inadequate patient care.