STUDY DESIGN We performed a prospective study to evaluate the reliability of using triggered electromyography (EMG) for predicting pedicle wall breakthrough during the placement of pedicle screw in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis surgery. PURPOSE We wanted to correlate pedicle wall breakthrough with the triggered EMG threshold of stimulation and the postoperative computed tomography (CT) find...

BACKGROUND The foremost concern of a surgeon during pedicle screw fixation is safety. Assistive modalities, especially intraoperative electromyographic monitoring (EMG) can function as an essential tool to recognize screw malposition that compromise neural integrity, so that the screws can be repositioned immediately rather than later. We intend to study the efficacy of intraoperative EMG monit...

BACKGROUND Pedicle screw fixation to stabilize lumbar spinal fusion has become the gold standard for posterior stabilization. A significant percentage of surgical candidates are classified as obese or morbidly obese. For these patients, the depth of the incisions and soft tissue makes it extremely difficult to insert pedicle screws along the pedicle axis. As such, the pedicle screws can only be...

STUDY DESIGN Retrospective. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical safety and accuracy of the Tai Chi ((Equation is included in full-text article.)) technique for placing pedicle screws, without intraoperative radiographic imaging, in severe scoliotic spines. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA The current techniques for pedicle screw placement have a number of drawbacks in cases of severe scoliosis, in...

AIM To demonstrate the incidence of screw misplacement and revision rates in a group of 72 patients that underwent pedicle screw fixation for spinal pathologies using the conventional, fluoroscopy-guided open technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS Data from 72 consecutive patients with spinal instability that received 472 screws between April 2011 and May 2013 were reviewed and pedicle wall breach w...

BACKGROUND The pullout strength of pedicle screws is influenced by many factors, including diameter of the screws, implant design, and augmentation with bone cement such as PMMA. In the present study, the pullout strength of an innovative fenestrated screw augmented with PMMA was investigated and was compared to unaugmented fenestrated, standard and dual outer diameter screw. METHODS Twenty f...

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...

background: the accuracy of pedicle screw placement is essential for lumbar and thoracolumbar spine fracture fixation. purpose: the aim of the present study was to assess the accuracy of the pedicle screw placement with conventional c-arm fuoroscopy-guided in these patients. methods: a retrospective review identified patients who underwent operative management with thoracolumbar instruments at ...

Rod reduction to pedicle screws is used for a variety of spinal fixation procedures; however, it can alter the integrity of the screw-bone interface. The authors investigated the effect of pedicle fill (ratio of pedicle screw diameter to pedicle diameter) on the strength of the screw-bone interface after simulated rod reduction on 17 vertebrae (3 thoracolumbar spine specimens). Pedicle diameter...

BACKGROUND Posterior, atlantoaxial (AA) fusions of the cervical spine may include either standard (26 mm) or short (16 mm) C2 pedicle screws. This manuscript focused on an in vitro biomechanical comparison of standard versus short C2 pedicle screws to perform posterior C1-C2 AA fusions. METHODS Twelve human cadaveric spines underwent C1 lateral mass screw and standard C2 pedicle screw (n = 6)...