Implant-related MRI artifacts of determined interbody test spacers: artifact calculations due to implant parameters in a porcine spine model

Abstract

Aim: Intervertebral spacers for anterior spine fusion are made of different materials, which can affect the post-fusion MRI scans. Suscep- tibility artifacts specially for implants made of titanium alloys can decrease the image quality. This study focused on the influence of deter-mined implant parameters like shape and implant volume in MRI artifacting independent from se-lected MRI-sequences. Methods: In this study the post-implantation MRI scans of determined cuboids and cylinders were evaluated. All in-terbody test implants were made of titanium alloys. MRI scans were carried out by using T1 TSE sequences. The total artifact volume (TAV) of all examined implants were calculated for sta-tistical t-test correlation and implant volume (IV)/TAV-relation. Results: Considering all ex-amined test implants with an increasing implant size the TAV became significant larger (p<0,001) with simultaneous reduction of the respective IV/TAV-relation. According to an intergroup TAV- correlation for cylinders and cuboids with an equivalent implant volume the cylindric test im-plants demonstrated a significant smaller arti-fact range (p<0,05). Conclusions: Based on these results the MRI artifacts of larger test im-plants were more limited to the to the implant’s direct surroundings. In this connection for im- plants with identical material volumes a cylin- dric shape demonstrated more advantages con- sidering MRI artifacting than cubic forms.