Quantitative analysis of misplaced pedicle screws in the thoracic spine: How much pullout strength is lost?

Authors

Leonardo B.C. Brasiliense, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical CenterFollow
Nicholas Theodore, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical CenterFollow
Bruno C.R. Lazaro, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical CenterFollow
Zafar A. Sayed, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
Fatih Ersay Deniz, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
Volker K.H. Sonntag, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical CenterFollow
Neil R. Crawford, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical CenterFollow

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Object. The object of this study was to investigate the effects of iatrogenic pedicle perforations from screw misplacement on the mean pullout strength of thoracic pedicle screws. Methods. Forty human thoracic vertebrae (T6-11) from human cadavers were studied. Before pedicle screws were inserted, the specimens were separated into 4 groups according to the type of screw used: 1) standard pedicle screw (no cortical perforation); 2) screw with medial cortical perforation; 3) screw with lateral cortical perforation; and 4) "airball" screw (a screw that completely missed the vertebral body). Consistency among the groups for bone mineral density, pedicle diameter, and screw insertion depth was evaluated. Finally, each screw was pulled out at a constant displacement rate of 10 mm/minute while ultimate strength was recorded. Results. Compared with well-placed pedicle screws, medially misplaced screws had 8% greater mean pullout strength (p = 0.482) and laterally misplaced screws had 21% less mean pullout strength (p = 0.059). The difference in mean pullout strength between screws with medial and lateral cortical perforations was significant (p = 0.013). Airball screws had only 66% of the mean pullout strength of well-placed screws (p = 0.009) and had 16% lower mean pullout strength than laterally misplaced screws (p = 0.395). Conclusions. This in vitro study showed a significant difference in mean pullout strength between medial and lateral misplaced pedicle screws. Moreover, airball screws were associated with a significant loss of pullout strength.

Keywords

Cadaver, Misplacement, Pedicle screw, Pullout strength, Thoracic spine

Publication Date

5-1-2010

Publication Title

Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine

ISSN

15475654

E-ISSN

15475646

Volume

12

Issue

5

First Page

503

Last Page

508

PubMed ID

20433298

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.3171/2009.11.SPINE09408

Recommended Citation

Brasiliense, Leonardo B.C.; Theodore, Nicholas; Lazaro, Bruno C.R.; Sayed, Zafar A.; Deniz, Fatih Ersay; Sonntag, Volker K.H.; and Crawford, Neil R., "Quantitative analysis of misplaced pedicle screws in the thoracic spine: How much pullout strength is lost?" (2010). Translational Neuroscience. 776.
https://scholar.barrowneuro.org/neurobiology/776