0383 - Morphology of Middle and Lower Cervical Pedicles

Introduction Transpedicular screw fixation is one of the most sophisticated procedures currently being used to stabilize the cervical spine. Anatomic studies have documented the external dimensions and angular parameters of the cervical pedicle, thereby providing the spinal surgeon with relevant information for accurate pedicle screw insertion [1,2]. Data is lacking, however, regarding its internal architecture and cortical shell thickness along the pedicle axis. It has been shown that screw stability and pull-out strength depend largely on the internal characteristics of the pedicle, not on its external dimensions [3]. The purpose of this study is two-fold: 1) To quantify the internal dimensions and cortical shell thicknesses of middle and lower cervical pedicles, and 2) To provide comparative graphical data which would document the variability in pedicle morphology. Our aim is to improve the percentage of successful surgical outcomes while minimizing risk to the patient.