STUDY DESIGN Controlled, cadaveric implantation trial. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of a robotic guidance system on screw placement accuracy, amount of radiation exposure, and length of procedure time during percutaneous pedicle screw implantation. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Pedicle screws are associated with low complication rates, and several computer-assisted image guidance systems e...

Computer-assisted frameless stereotactic image guidance allows precise preoperative planning and intraoperative localisation of the image. It has been developed and tested in the laboratory. We evaluated the efficacy, clinical results and complications of placement of a pedicle screw in the lumbar spine using this technique. A total of 62 patients (28 men, 34 women) had lumbar decompression and...

Posterolateral fusion has long been considered the "gold standard" technique for surgical treatment of adult spondylolisthesis. Superior results have subsequently been reported with interbody fusion with cages and posterior instrumentation. The goal of this prospective study was to compare the two techniques regarding their clinical outcomes and fusion rates. Fifty-two patients with isthmic spo...

INTRODUCTION Pedicle screw fixation in a severely osteoporotic spine remains a challenge for orthopaedic surgeons. Previous studies have demonstrated that pedicle screw fixation is highly correlated to the bone mineral density [1], and increasing the screw’s pullout strength can be achieved using a variety of methods, these include the use of pedicle screws with various designs [2,3]. However, ...

PURPOSE. To evaluate the insertion torque and pullout strength of pedicle screws with or without repositioning. METHODS. 20 fresh porcine lumbar vertebrae of similar size were used. The entry point was at the site just lateral and distal to the superior facet joint of the vertebra, and to a depth of 35 mm. A 6.2-mm-diameter, 35-mm-long pedicle screw was inserted parallel to the superior end pla...

BACKGROUND This study aimed to evaluate the application of 3D printing in assisting preoperative plan of pedicle screw placement for treating middle-upper thoracic trauma. METHODS A preoperative plan was implemented in seven patients suffering from middle-upper thoracic (T3-T7) trauma between March 2013 and February 2016. In the 3D printing models, entry points of 56 pedicle screws (Magerl me...

BACKGROUND Short-segment pedicle screw instrumentation (SSPI) is used for unstable burst fractures to correct deformity and stabilize the spine for fusion. However, pedicle screw loosening, pullout, or breakage often occurs due to the large moment applied during spine motion, leading to poor outcomes. The purpose of this study was to test the ability of a newly designed device, the Trans-Endpla...

Study Design This study was designed as a survey amongst Canadian spine surgeon to determine a scoring system to standardize pedicle screw placement assessment. Purpose This study aimed to obtain and analyze the opinions of spine surgeons regarding the assessment of pedicle screw accuracy, with the goal of establishing clinical guidelines for interventions for malpositioned pedicle screws. ...