OBJECTIVE: Cervical pedicle screw (CPS) placement is very challenging due to high risk of neurovascular complications. We devised a new technique (medial funnel technique) to improve the accuracy and feasibility of CPS placement. METHODS: We reviewed 28 consecutive patients undergoing CPS instrumentation using the medial funnel technique. Their mean age was 51.4 years (range, 30–81 years). Preoperative diagnosis included degenerative disease (n=5), trauma (n=22), and infection (n=1). Screw perforations were graded with the following criteria: grade 0 having no perforation, grade 1 having < 25%, grade 2 having 25%–50% and grade 3 having >50% of screw diameter. Grades 0 and 1 were considered as correct position. The degree of perforation was determined by 2 junior neurosurgeons and 1 senior neurosurgeon. RESULTS: A total of 88 CPSs were inserted. The rate of correct placement was 94.3%; grade 0, 54 screws; grade 1, 29 screws; grade 2, 4 screws; and grade 3, 1 screw. No neurovascular complications or failure of instrumentation occurred. In perforated screws (34 screws), lateral perforations were 4 and medial perforations were 30. CONCLUSION: We performed CPS insertion using medial funnel technique and achieved 94.3% (83 of 88) of correct placement. And it can decrease lateral perforation.
Bone Screws ; Cervical Vertebrae ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Neurosurgeons ; Pedicle Screws*

STUDY DESIGN: Biomechanical study. PURPOSE: To determine the effect of density, insertion angle and reinsertion on pull-out strength of pedicle screw in single and two screw-rod configurations. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Pedicle screw pull-out studies have involved single screw construct, whereas two screws and rod constructs are always used in spine fusions. Extrapolation of results using the single screw construct may lead to using expensive implants or increasing the fusion levels specifically in osteoporotic bones. METHODS: Single screw and two screw pull-out strength tests were carried out according to American Society for Testing and Materials F 543-07 on foam models to test the effect of density, insertion angle and reinsertion using poly axial pedicle screws. RESULTS: Bone density was the most significant factor deciding the pull-out strength in both single and two screw constructs. The difference in pull-out strength between single screw and two screw configurations in extremely osteoporotic bone model (80 kg/m3) was 78%, whereas in the normal bone model it was 48%. Axial pull-out value was highest for the single screw configuration; in the two screw configuration the highest pull-out strength was at 10°-15°. There was an 18% reduction in pull-out strength due to reinsertion in single screw configuration. The reinsertion effect was insignificant in the two screw configuration. CONCLUSIONS: A significant difference in response of various factors on holding power of pedicle screw between single and two-screw configurations is evident. The percentage increase in pull-out strength between single and two screw constructs is higher for osteoporotic bone when compared to normal bone. Reinsertion has no significant effect on pull-out strength in the two screw rod configuration.
Bone Density ; Osteoporosis ; Pedicle Screws* ; Spine

STUDY DESIGN: Biomechanical study. PURPOSE: To determine the effect of density, insertion angle and reinsertion on pull-out strength of pedicle screw in single and two screw-rod configurations. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Pedicle screw pull-out studies have involved single screw construct, whereas two screws and rod constructs are always used in spine fusions. Extrapolation of results using the single screw construct may lead to using expensive implants or increasing the fusion levels specifically in osteoporotic bones. METHODS: Single screw and two screw pull-out strength tests were carried out according to American Society for Testing and Materials F 543-07 on foam models to test the effect of density, insertion angle and reinsertion using poly axial pedicle screws. RESULTS: Bone density was the most significant factor deciding the pull-out strength in both single and two screw constructs. The difference in pull-out strength between single screw and two screw configurations in extremely osteoporotic bone model (80 kg/m3) was 78%, whereas in the normal bone model it was 48%. Axial pull-out value was highest for the single screw configuration; in the two screw configuration the highest pull-out strength was at 10°-15°. There was an 18% reduction in pull-out strength due to reinsertion in single screw configuration. The reinsertion effect was insignificant in the two screw configuration. CONCLUSIONS: A significant difference in response of various factors on holding power of pedicle screw between single and two-screw configurations is evident. The percentage increase in pull-out strength between single and two screw constructs is higher for osteoporotic bone when compared to normal bone. Reinsertion has no significant effect on pull-out strength in the two screw rod configuration.
Bone Density ; Osteoporosis ; Pedicle Screws* ; Spine

BACKGROUNDWe aimed to use the animal model of dynamic fixation to examine the interaction of the pedicle screw surface with surrounding bone, and determine whether pedicle screws achieve good mechanical stability in the vertebrae.

METHODSTwenty-four goats aged 2-3 years had Cosmic ® pedicle screws implanted into both sides of the L2-L5 pedicles. Twelve goats in the bilateral dynamic fixation group had fixation rods implanted in L2-L3 and L4-L5. Twelve goats in the unilateral dynamic fixation group had fixation rods randomly fixed on one side of the lumbar spine. The side that was not implanted with fixation rods was used as a static control group.

RESULTSIn the static control group, new bone was formed around the pedicle screw and on the screw surface. In the unilateral and bilateral dynamic fixation groups, large amounts of connective tissue formed between and around the screw threads, with no new bone formation on the screw surface; the pedicle screws were loose after the fixed rods were removed. The bone mineral density and morphological parameters of the region of interest (ROI) in the unilateral and bilateral dynamic fixation group were not significantly different (P > 0.05), but were lower in the fixed groups than the static control group (P < 0.05). This showed the description bone of the ROI in the static control group was greater than in the fixation groups. Under loading conditions, the pedicle screw maximum pull force was not significantly different between the bilateral and unilateral dynamic fixation groups (P > 0.05); however the maximum pull force of the fixation groups was significantly less than the static control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSFibrous connective tissue formed at the bone-screw interface under unilateral and bilateral pedicle dynamic fixation, and the pedicle screws lost mechanical stability in the vertebrae.

Animals ; Bone Screws ; Goats ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Orthopedic Procedures ; methods ; Pedicle Screws

This literature review examines the relative placement of the interbody cage with respect to the unilateral screw construct to address the need for bilateral screw placement versus unilateral screw placement. Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) has become a widely used technique for correcting lumbar intervertebral pathologies. This review addresses the necessity for further study on the effects of the relative position of intervertebral cage placement on the outcome of lumbar spine surgery after TLIF with unilateral pedicle screw fixation. Previous studies have addressed various factors, including posterior screw fixation, cage size, cage shape, and number of levels fused, that impact the biomechanics of the lumbar spine following TLIF. A simple survey of the literature was conducted. A search of the English literature was conducted using the keywords ‘TLIF,’ ‘transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion,’ ‘graft placement,’ ‘graft position,’ ‘cage position,’ ‘cage placement,’ ‘unilateral pedicle screw,’ ‘unilateral TLIF cage placement,’ ‘lumbar biomechanics,’ ‘lumbar stability,’ ‘lumbar fusion,’ and ‘lumbar intervertebral cage’ with various combinations of the operators ‘AND’ and ‘OR’ and no date restrictions. Seventeen articles in the English literature that were most relevant to this research question were identified. To the best of our knowledge, there are no published data addressing the effects of cage placement relative to the unilateral screw on lumbar stability in TLIF with unilateral pedicle screw fixation. Investigation of the effects of cage placement is, thus, warranted to achieve optimal clinical outcomes in patients undergoing TLIF with unilateral pedicle screw fixation.
Bone Screws ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Pathology ; Pedicle Screws ; Spinal Fusion ; Spine

With porcine vertebrae, the static and dynamic holding power of the pedicle screws under various conditions were measured to understand the biomechanical nature of the transpedicular screw fixation in spine. The objectives of the present study were; (1) to find the correlation between the insertion depth of the screw and the resulting holding power, (2) to determine the effect of bone cement augmentation on the screw fixation in a loosened hole, and (3) to assess the load-sharing mechanism between the cortical and the cancellous one surrounding the screw in this fixational system. The geomorphological characteristics of each porcine vertebra was measured directly with a micro-caliper. The bone mineral density of the specimens was also measured. Material with screw was holded in the fixed cross head of material testing system(Autograph E-10T). Testing force was applied and graph was obtained in the chart record. The results of the static pull-out tests in this study showed that there was a statistically-significant positive correlation between the screw diameter and the pull-out resistance(p < 0.05). The strength of the fixation did not actually increase as much as the insertion depth of the screw increased in these tests(r=0.457). In low-cycle fatigue tests, the increased number of cycles was required to clinical failure in the deeper-inserted crews. Considering the mechanical failure, a statistically-significant positive correlation between the failure cycle and the insertion depth was observed in both deep and shallow insertion groups(p < 0.05). Nonpressurized PMMA augmentation appeared to restore the ability of the screws to withstand pullout loading of the original value. On the effect of the cortical and cancellous bone, the most important factor was the cortical bone of the entrance near the screw.
Bone Density ; Fatigue ; Head ; In Vitro Techniques ; Pedicle Screws ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; Spine

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to demonstrate the lumbar pedicle cortical bone trajectory (CBT) screw fixation technique, a new fixation technique for lumbar surgery.

DATA SOURCESThe data analyzed in this review are mainly from articles reported in PubMed published from 1994 to 2014.

STUDY SELECTIONOriginal articles and critical reviews relevant to CBT technique and lumbar pedicle fixation were selected.

RESULTSCBT technique was firstly introduced as a new fixation method for lumbar pedicle surgery in 2009. The concepts, morphometric study, biomechanical characteristics and clinical applications of CBT technique were reviewed. The insertional point of CBT screw is located at the lateral point of the pars interarticularis, and its trajectory follows a caudocephalad path sagittally and a laterally directed path in the transverse plane. CBT technique can be used for posterior fixation during lumbar fusion procedures. This technique is a minimally invasive surgery, which affords better biomechanical stability, fixation strength and surgical safety. Therefore, CBT technique has the greatest benefit in lumbar pedicle surgery for patients with osteoporosis and obesity.

CONCLUSIONCBT technique is a better alternative option of lumbar pedicle fixation, especially for patients with osteoporosis and obesity.

Cortical Bone ; surgery ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Lumbosacral Region ; surgery ; Pedicle Screws

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. PURPOSE: We evaluated the functional, neurological, and radiological outcome in patients with thoracic and thoracolumbar tuberculosis operated through the transpedicular approach. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: For surgical treatment of thoracic and thoracolumbar tuberculosis, the anterior approach has been the most popular because it allows direct access to the infected tissue, thereby providing good decompression. However, anterior fixation is not strong, and graft failure and loss of correction are frequent complications. The transpedicular approach allows circumferential decompression of neural elements along with three-column fixation attained via pedicle screws by the same approach. METHODS: A total of 47 patients were diagnosed with tuberculosis of the thoracic or thoracolumbar region from August 2012 to August 2013. Of these, 28 patients had progressive neurological deterioration or increasing back pain despite conservative measures and underwent transpedicular decompression and pedicle screw fixation with posterior fusion. Antituberculosis therapy was given till signs of radiological healing were evident (9–16 months). Functional outcome (visual analog scale [VAS] score for back pain), neurological recovery (Frankel grading), and radiological improvement were evaluated preoperatively, immediate postoperatively, and at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year. RESULTS: Mean VAS score for back pain improved from 8.7 preoperatively to 1.1 at 1 year follow-up. Frankel grading preoperatively was grade B in 7, grade C in 11, and Grade D in 10 patients, which improved to grade D in 6 and grade E in 22 patients at the last follow-up. Radiological healing was evident in the form of reappearance of trabeculae formation, resolution of pus, fatty marrow replacement, and bony fusion in all patients. Mean correction of segmental kyphosis postoperatively was 10.5°. Mean loss of correction at final follow-up was 4.1°. CONCLUSIONS: Transpedicular decompression with instrumented fusion is a safe and effective approach for management of patients with thoracic and thoracolumbar tuberculosis.
Back Pain ; Bone Marrow ; Decompression* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Pedicle Screws ; Retrospective Studies ; Suppuration ; Transplants ; Tuberculosis* ; Tuberculosis, Spinal

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical outcomes of distal hook augmentation using a pedicle screw in thoracolumbar fusion in elderly patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective multicenter study recruited 20 patients aged 65 years or older, who underwent anterior support and long level posterior fusion in the thoracolumbar junction with a follow-up of one year. To assess the effect of distal hook augmentation, the patients were divided into two groups; the pedicle screw with hook group (PH group, n=10) and the pedicle screw alone group (PA group, n=10). RESULTS: The average age was 72.4 years (65–83 years). The average fusion segment was 4.6 segments (3–6 segments). There were no significant differences in age, sex, causative diseases, bone mineral density of lumbar and proximal femur, number of patients with osteoporosis, and number of fused segments between the two groups (p≥0.05). At 1 year follow-up after surgery, parameters related with distal screw pullout were significantly worse in the PA group. No patients in the PH group had distal screw pullout. However, six patients (60%, 6/10) in the PA group had distal screw pullout. There were no significant differences in the progression of distal junctional kyphosis between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Distal hook augmentation is an effective procedure in protecting distal pedicle screws against the pullout when long level thoracolumbar fusion was performed in elderly patients aged 65 years or older.
Aged* ; Bone Diseases ; Femur ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Kyphosis ; Miners ; Osteoporosis ; Pedicle Screws* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion

This is a case of pulmonary cement embolism in a young non-osteoporotic patient who sustained a burst fracture of L1. Bone cement augmentation was done for the fractured vertebra as well as over other segments where pedicle screws were inserted. The procedure eventually led to pulmonary cement embolism. The pathway for cement to reach the pulmonary vasculature from within the vertebral body is shown thru a series of imaging studies with the CT Scan done for the patient showing the route taken by the cement as it proceeds towards the pulmonary artery. This is rarely, if ever, shown in published literature. The literature is reviewed further to provide a rational management strategry for such a potentially life threatening condition.

Human ; Male ; Adult ; Pedicle Screws ; Bone Cements ; Pulmonary Artery ; Spinal Fractures ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Spine ; Tomography, X-ray Computed