The study used 24 frozen lumbar vertebrae from five cadavers. The researchers placed preassembled head screws and modular head screws into the right and left pedicles of each vertebra. The study included X-rays for measuring angle deviations between tapped and final screw trajectories and researchers performed pullout tests.
Journal of Clinical Neuroscience published the study.
Here are five notes.
1. Researchers reported 70.8 percent of the spinous processes required excision to align with proper trajectories.
2. Six fractures happened with the preassembled screws compared to one fracture with the modular head screws.
3. The study revealed the midline-to-medial wall distance of the pedicle proved a marginally significant predictor of fracture.
4. Researchers found no statistical differences between the two screws’ pullout loads.
5. The researchers concluded modular head screws presented a “significantly lower fracture rate than preassembled head screws for cortical bone trajectory in osteoporotic bone.”
More articles on spine:
Neurosurgeon to plead guilty to concealing bankruptcy assets: 5 things to know
10 most-read spine stories in March
5 key points on cost-effectiveness of spine surgery for herniated discs
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.