Bone Plates ; Bone Screws ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Mandible ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the features and causes of complications of unilateral pedicle screw fixation combined with contralateral percutaneous translaminar facet screw fixation and lumbar interbody fusion in treating lower lumbar diseases.

METHODSThe clinical data of 166 patients with lower lumbar diseases who underwent unilateral pedicle screw fixation combined with contralateral percutaneous translaminar facet screw fixation and lumbar interbody fusion with intervertebral cages from January 2008 to December 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 64 males and 102 females, aged from 24 to 74 years with a mean of 51.9 years old, suffered from lower lumbar lesions for 47.5 months on average (ranged, 8 months to 30 years). Among these patients, lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration was found in 49 patients, recurred lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion in 17 patients, massive lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion in 23 patients, lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion accompany with spinal canal stenosis in 27 patients, lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis with degree I (Meyerding grade) in 21 patients, far lateral lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion in 5 patients. Single segmental diseases occurred in 124 patients and two segmental diseases in 42 patients. The diseases occurred at L(3,4) segment in 6 patients, at L(4,5) segment in 97 patients, at L5S1 segment in 21 patients, at L(2,3), and L(3,4) segments in 1 patient, at L(3,4) and L4,5) segments in 26 patients, and at L(4,5), and L5S1 segments in 15 patients.

RESULTSThere was no abnormal bleeding in the patients and no patient received blood transfusion. During the surgery, spinal dura mater injury with cerebrospinal fluid leakage complicated in 1 patient, a fracture of vertebral pedicle in 4 patients, and end plate injury in 2 patients. No postoperative cerebrospinal fluid, incision infection and skin necrosis were found after operation. Nerve root injury was found in 1 patient. According to the position of pedicles crew, 371 screws of 163 patients were in degree I and 3 screws of 3 patients were in degree II; position of translaminar facet screw, 199 screws of 157 patients were type I, 8 screws of 8 patients were type II, 1 screw of 1 patient was III. Translaminar facet screw was slightly short in 2 patients. Five patients were lost to follow-up, two patients were died. The remaining patients were followed up for 35.4 months on average (ranged, 12 to 60 months). During the follow-up period , end plate was cut off and intervertebral cages were embedded in 14 segments of 14 patients. Abnormal pain of both lower extremities was found in 1 patient. With the exception of 11 unidentified segments in 11 patients, 189 segments of 148 patients obtained intervertebral fusion. No loosening, displacement, breakage of pedicle screw or translaminar facet screw, displacement of intervertebral cages or obvious degeneration of adjacent segments were found. The coronal and sagittal planes balance of lumbar vertebra were obviously improved. Postoperative JOA score was significantly increased than that of preoperative.

CONCLUSIONUnilateral pedicle screw fixation combined with contralateral percutaneous translaminar facet screw fixation and lumbar interbody fusion with intervertebral cages is a good choice for the treatment of lower lumbar diseases, but it has a risk of complications. Abundant surgeon's surgical experience, careful operation, and rational use of imaging technique can effectively reduce the incidence of complications.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Plates ; Female ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; surgery ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pedicle Screws ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion ; Spondylolisthesis ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

The lumbosacral fusion has some problems because of it's biomechanical characteristics especially in the unstable spine of various causes and results considerable cases of pseudoarthrosis even with long immobilization. The conventional internal fixators for the spine are not adequate for the lumbosacral fixation with difficulty of sacral fixation maintaining lumbosacral lordosis and risk of the sacral nerves. Recently the pedicle screws and sacral screws connected to the plates or rods are known to be very effective and safe for the lumbosacral fixation permiting early mobilization and decreasing the incidence of pseudoarthrosis. Authors reviewed 10 cases of lumbosacral fusion with internal fixation using the long bone plates and screws which were managed since June 1986 at the department of orthopaedic surgery, Daegu Fatima Hospital and the followings were obtained. 1. The cases were 5 isthmic and 5 degenerative spondylolisthesis with enough spinal stenosis and instability before surgery or after decompression procedures having ages from 39 to 62 years old. 2. All cases had adequate decompression and bilateral intertransverse fusion combined with the internal fixation from 4th lumbar spine to sacrum. 3. Post-operative complications noted in 3 cases such as superficial infection, marginal skin necrosis, paralytic ileus, urinary difficulty and loosening of screws which were all improved without additional procedures. 4. There was no pseudoarthrosis at follow-up examination of 6 months to 1 year and 9 months in spite of a case of loosening of screws. 5. Ambulation was allowed in 2 weeks after surgery wearing lumbosacral corset and all satisfied the results having complete or significant improvement of the symptoms. 6. The internal fixation using long bone plates and screws for the lumbosacral fusion was considered to be effective with very low cost and good mobility.
Animals ; Bone Plates ; Daegu ; Decompression ; Early Ambulation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Immobilization ; Incidence ; Internal Fixators ; Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction ; Lordosis ; Necrosis ; Pedicle Screws ; Pseudarthrosis ; Sacrum ; Skin ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spine ; Spondylolisthesis ; Walking

OBJECTIVETo compare statics characteristics between anterior transpedicular screws (ATPS) system and vertebral body screws (VBS) system in lower cervical spine.

METHODSSixteen fresh cervical specimens were collected and dissected into 32 different units (functional spinal unit, FSU), 8 units in C3,4, C4,5, C5,6 and C6,7 each. The subjects were randomly divided into group A and B. The anterior transpedicular screw-plate system and anterior vertebral body screw-plate system were implanted separately in group A and B. Then, the maximum axial pull out strength was tested and compared between two fixation system.

RESULTSMaximum pull out strength was (604.68 +/- 48.76) N in group A and (488.24 +/- 32.42) N in group B, and there was significant difference between two groups (t = 2.147, P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in all FSU between anterior transpedicular screws system and vertebral body screws system (F(A) = 2.27, F(B) = 2.05, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe pull out strength of anterior transpedicular screws system is better than vertebral body screws system, and the anterior transpedicular screws has the biomechanical feasibility in clinic.

Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Plates ; Bone Screws ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Humans ; Internal Fixators

OBJECTIVETo explore the surgical methods and clinical evaluation of complex tibial plateau fractures resulted from high-energy injuries.

METHODSFrom March 2006 to May 2009,48 cases with complex tibial plateau fractures were treated with open reduction and plate fixation, including 37 males and 11 females, with an average age of 37 years (ranged from 18 to 63 years). According to Schatzker classification, 16 cases were type IV, 20 cases type V and 12 cases type VI. All patients were examined by X-ray flim and CT scan. The function of knee joint were evaluated according to postoperative follow-up X-ray and Knee Merchant Rating.

RESULTSForty-eight patients were followed up with a mean time of 14 months. According to Knee Merchant Rating, 24 cases got excellent results, 16 cases good, 6 cases fair and 2 cases poor.

CONCLUSIONAppropriate operation time, anatomical reduction, suitable bone graft and reasonable rehabilitation exercises can maximally recovery the function of knee joint.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Nails ; Bone Plates ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; methods ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Knee Joint ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tibial Fractures ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

This article introduces a new-type anti-rotation reduction internal fixator, which can be applied in various spine fractures and dislocations in order to shorten the operation time, to raise reduction effect, and to reduce the complications such as the loss of reduction, broken nail, broken rod etc. Biomechanical tests and clinical applications have proved that the internal fixator has the features of a short operation time, a definite fixation and few complications.
Bone Nails ; Bone Plates ; Equipment Design ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; methods ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery

Locking plate technology offers improved fixation stability in osteopenic bone and for comminuted and periarticular fractures. The additional stability per screw compared with that of conventional nonlocking fixation enhances the application of minimally invasive fracture techniques. The application of locking plates is somewhat more difficult than the placement of conventional plates. Fracture reductions are often done indirectly, the locking screw must be carefully aligned along the axis of the receiving hole to ensure proper tightness, and the length of the plate must be selected carefully. The use of locking plates will likely increase, particularly with the increasing prevalence of osteopenic fractures on our aging population and the increase in high-energy fractures in younger patients severe trauma.
Bone Plates ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Internal Fixators

OBJECTIVETo solve the problem of screw penetrating the joint surface easily by determining the angle of inclination and the mean longth screw plated on the posterior column.

METHODSTen specimens of adult male cadavers, aged 20 to 74 years old, averaged 54.5 years old, were collected. After removal of the bilateral femurs from the hip joints, and sawing through the sacral and pubic symphysis in the median sagittal plane, 20 semi pelvic specimens were used for this study when the osseous abnormalities were excluded. The specimens were air dried naturelly after the soft tissue attaching to the pelvis had been eliminated. The margin of superior acetabular and inferior acetabular were determined, and the serial cross-sections of the acetabular posterior column were made. The width of posterior column,the width of acetabulum,the width ratio of acetabulum to posterior column, the angle of inclination and the mean length of screw on all entry points were measured. Defined the level parallel to 1/2 section of superior acetabulum was cross-section B; 1/2 section of acetabulum was C; 1/2 section of inferior acettabulum was D. At the different levels, defined the entry point on the outer edge of posterior column of the acetabulum or the trailing edge of acetabulum was B0, C0 or D0; lateral 1/2 of posterior column of the acetabulum was B1, C1 or D1; 1/2 of posterior column of the acetabulum was B2, C2 or D2; medial 1/2 of posterior column of the acetabulum was B3, C3 or D3; the inner edge of posterior column of the acetabulum was B4,C4 or D4.

RESULTSOn cross-section B, the angle of inclination and the mean length of screw at B0 was 41 degrees and 44.0 mm; at B1 was 66 degrees and 42.2 mm; at B2 was 91 degrees and 59.5 mm; at B3 was 107 degrees and 64.0 mm; the maximum angle and the mean length at point B4 was 123 degrees and 65.5 mm; the minimum angle and the mean length at point B4 was 109 degrees and 59.0 mm. On cross-section C,the angle and the mean length at point CO was 39 degrees and 39.0 mm; at C1 was 57 degrees and 36.0 mm; at C2 was 74 degrees and 36.0 mm;at C3 was 90 degrees and 36.0 mm; at C4 was 106 degrees and 76.0 mm. On cross-section D,the angle and the mean length at DO was 42 degrees and 35.5 mm; at D1 was 61 degrees and 33.0 mm; at D2 was 81 degrees and 32.0 mm; at D3 was 100 degrees and 31.0 mm; at D4 was 120 degrees and 74.0 mm.

CONCLUSIONWhen using the fixation technique of acetabular posterior column plate, the angles of screw-posterior column are 40 degrees to 60 degrees, 60 degrees to 75 degrees, 75 degrees to 90 degrees and 90 degrees to the angle of parallel to the square area respectively on the region of outer 1/4,outer-middle 1/4,inner-middle 1/4 and inner 1/4 of the acetabulum region, and the screw length is 30 mm.

Acetabulum ; anatomy & histology ; injuries ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Plates ; Bone Screws ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; Fractures, Bone ; surgery ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo introduce a new technique using OsteoMed M3 titanium plate and screws for fixation of the posterior elements in the open position after expansive unilateral open-door laminoplasty and evaluate its clinical effect.

METHODSSixteen patients with multilevel cervical disc herniation and canal stenosis were treated with an expansive unilateral open-door laminoplasty using OsteoMed M3 plate and screws, and the follow-up period lasted for over 6 months.

RESULTSMost of the patients had marked neurological improvement after the surgery. The mean Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score of the patients increased significantly from 9.06-/+2.380 (range 5 to 13) before surgery to 13.63-/+1.408 (range 11 to 16) at the final follow-up (P<0.005), with a mean recovery rate of 57.5%. One patient without postoperative neurological improvement underwent an additional anterior multilevel corpectomy. Bone fusion of the surgical lamina was achieved in all the cases without canal stenosis.

CONCLUSIONUnilateral open-door laminoplasty with OsteoMed M3 titanium plate and screw fixation can effectively maintain the expansion of the spinal canal and resist closure while preserving the spinal alignment and stability. This modified technique is easy to perform and is associated with a low complication rate.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Plates ; Bone Screws ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Decompression, Surgical ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; complications ; surgery ; Laminectomy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Stenosis ; etiology ; surgery ; Suture Anchors ; Titanium

OBJECTIVETo study the impact of screw orientation on the pullout strength of OsteoMed M3 titanium screws in expansive unilateral open-door laminoplasty of the cervical spine.

METHODSSix fresh human cervical spine specimens were randomly numbered and OsteoMed M3 plate and screws were used for an expansive unilateral open-door laminoplasty. The screws were inserted in the lateral mass at different extraversion angles (0°, 30° and 45°). The maximum pullout strength was tested on the ElectroForce material testing machine.

RESULTSThe maximum pullout strength was 81.60∓7.33 N, 150.05∓15.57 N, and 160.08∓17.77 N in extraversion angle 0°, 30°, and 45° groups, respectively. The maximum pullout strength was significantly less in extraversion angle 0° group than in 30° and 45° groups (P<0.05), but similar in the latter two groups.

CONCLUSIONThe pullout strength of the screws inserted at an extraversion angle over 30° provides stronger fixation than an angle of 0° in the unilateral open-door laminoplasty using OsteoMed M3 titanium plate and screws.

Adult ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Plates ; Bone Screws ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Cervicoplasty ; instrumentation ; Device Removal ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Male ; Materials Testing ; Young Adult