Sex-based anatomical differences have an impact on S2 alar-iliac screw placement and rod alignment in the coronal plane during spine surgery, according to a study in Spine Deformity.
The study examined 185 complete cases and evaluated adult deformity patients, according to an Oct. 2 news release from Mount Sinai Health System, which led the research.
Researchers found that males had significantly smaller distances between the posterior superior iliac spine compared to females. They also found that alignment of the rod was more convergent distally in males versus females.
“Our study is the first to show that men and women may benefit from different approaches when placing pelvic screws during spine surgery, due to differences in pelvic shape,” James Lin, MD, an author on the study, said in the release. “These findings underscore the importance of patient-specific planning, which — when combined with advanced navigation technologies and custom implants — can significantly improve alignment and outcomes in spinal deformity surgery.”
