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Conventional pedicle screw placement remains safe and accurate
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Conventional methods for placing pedicle screws remain safe and accurate, especially within the lower lumbar and sacral spine, according to findings in a recently published study.
Researchers analyzed the placement of 770 pedicle screws with conventional methods at vertebral levels T7 to S1 in 114 patients. Accuracy was gauged by an axial thin-cut CT scan, and screws were classified correctly placed when they were completely surrounded by the pedicle cortex.
Only 18 screws (2.3%) were classified as having an incorrect position, with the highest accuracy found in levels L4 and L5 (0.8% inaccuracy for both). Eight of the incorrectly placed screws were medial, nine were lateral and one was inferior, according to the researchers. Only one screw required revision due to the patient’s complaint of persistent radicular pain.
The researchers also noted T9 had the highest rate of inaccuracy rate at 12.5%, followed by T7 and T8 at 10% and 8.3%, respectively.
Superficial wound infections occurred in two patients and one deep wound infection was observed in one patient. – by Robert Linnehan
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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