OBJECTIVE To present the accuracy and safety of cervical pedicle screw insertion using the technique with direct exposure of the pedicle by laminoforaminotomy. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 12 consecutive patients. A total of 104 subaxial cervical pedicle screws in 12 patients had been inserted. We also assessed the clinical and radiological outcomes and analyzed the direction and grade...

STUDY DESIGN Cadaveric biomechanical study. OBJECTIVE To determine fatigue behavior of cortical bone trajectory (CBT) pedicle screws. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Cortical bone trajectory screws have been becoming popular in spine surgery; however, the long-term fatigue behavior of the new CBT screws remains understudied and limitations not well defined. METHODS Twelve vertebrae from six ca...

BACKGROUND The wide use of minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) surgery in the treatment of degenerative disc disease of lumbar spine in spinal surgery highlights the gradual decrease in the use of traditional pedicle screw insertion technology. This study aims to analyze the accuracy of the true anteroposterior view pedicle screw insertion technique in MIS-TLIF ...

BACKGROUND Computerized navigation improves the accuracy of minimally invasive pedicle screw placement during spine surgery. Such navigation, however, exposes both the patient and the staff to radiation during surgery. To avoid intraoperative exposure to radiation, tracked ultrasound snapshots-ultrasound image frames coupled with corresponding spatial positions-could be used to map preoperative...

Spine stabilization after C3-C7 laminectomy can be accomplished with many instrumentation options. A hybrid construct using lateral mass screws from C3 to C5 and pedicle screws at C7 can potentially maximize strength and solve the spatial constraints introduced by the placement of C6 lateral mass screws and C7 pedicle screws. Seven cadaveric cervical spines from C2 to T2 were potted in a custom...

Introduction Unilateral pedicle screw fixation and transforaminal cage for interbody fusion are well-established form of treatment for lumbar spondylolisthesis. It is cost effective and has shown to have a comparable outcome to bilateral pedicle screw fixation. We present a case of unilateral pedicle screw fixation and transforaminal cage for interbody fusion in a patient of Grade 1 Degenerativ...

BACKGROUND The training of orthopedic residents in adequate pedicle screw placement is very important. We sought to investigate orthopedic residents' perspectives on the use of computer-assisted surgery (CAS) in a training trial. METHODS Orthopedic residents were randomly assigned to independently place a screw using the free-hand technique and the CAS technique on 1 of 3 cadavers (Cobb angle...

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, ...

BACKGROUND The objective of the study was to improve the accuracy of computer-assisted pedicle screw installation in the spine. This study evaluates the accuracy of computer-assisted pedicle screw placement with separate spinal reference clamp placement and registration on each instrumented vertebra for thoracolumbar spine fractures. METHODS Postoperative radiographs and CT scans assessed the...

INTRODUCTION Pedicle screw fixation allows purchase of all three spinal columns without encroaching into the spinal canal improving fracture fixation, as well as deformity correction. Fortunately, neurologic injury associated with pedicle screw malposition is rare. CASE PRESENTATION A 19-year-old boy was surgically treated for severe right thoracic scoliosis associated with a Chiari Type 1 ma...