Biomechanical comparison of sacral and transarticular sacroiliac screw fixation.

STUDY DESIGN: A detailed finite element analysis of screw fixation in the sacrum and pelvis. OBJECTIVE: To biomechanically assess and compare the fixation performance of sacral and transarticular sacroiliac screws. Instrumentation constructs are used to achieve fixation and stabilization for the treatment of spinopelvic pathologies. The optimal screw trajectory and type of bone engagement to caudally anchor long fusion constructs are not yet known. METHODS: A detailed finite element model of the sacroiliac articulation with two different bone densities was developed. Two sacral and one transarticular sacroiliac screw trajectories were modeled with different diameters (5.5 and 6.5 mm) and lengths (uni-cortical, bi-cortical and quad-cortical purchase). Axial pullout and flexion/extension toggle forces were applied on the screws representing intra and post-operative loads. The force-displacement results and von Mises stresses were used to characterize the failure pattern. RESULTS: Overall, sacroiliac screws provided forces to failure 2.75 times higher than sacral fixation screws. On the contrary, the initial stiffness was approximately half as much for sacroiliac screws. High stresses were located at screw tips for the sacral trajectories and near the cortical bone screw entry points for the sacroiliac trajectory. Overall, the diameter and length of the screws had significant effects on the screw fixation (33% increase in force to failure; 5% increase in initial stiffness). A 20% drop in bone mineral density (lower bone quality) decreased the initial stiffness by 25% and the force to failure by 5-10%. High stresses and failure occurred at the screw tip for uni- and tri-cortical screws and were close to trabecular-cortical bone interface for bi-cortical and quad-cortical screws. CONCLUSIONS: Sacroiliac fixation provided better anchorage than sacral fixation. The transarticular purchase of the sacroiliac trajectory resulted in differences in failure pattern and fixation performance.

Lateral Pressure and VAS Pain Score Analysis for the Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion Procedure.

BACKGROUND: The lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) procedure is a minimally invasive procedure that has become widely utilized. The LLIF procedure typically involves bending the table to access the disc spaces of interest due to anatomical constraints. It is unknown if this bending process is painful or what pressures are exhibited on the downside part of the body. The goal of the study was to determine whether sex, height, weight, body mass index, bed angle, or positioning relative to the break of the bed affects the downside skin pressures and VAS pain scores in awake volunteers. METHODS: Fifty-six volunteers were placed in the lateral decubitus position and pressure sensors were placed at the downside part of their anatomy (shoulder, T10 rib , iliac crest, and greater trochanter). The pressures were checked with the iliac crest or greater trochanter at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 degree bed angles. VAS scores were checked when the iliac crest or greater trochanter were at the maximum bed break angles. RESULTS: A significant positive association was found between increased bed angle and pressure at all five areas on the downside body locations (p<0.0001). The greatest pressures were located at the iliac crest and greater trochanter when these specific locations were centered over the break of the bed (p<0.0001). When the iliac crest was placed at maximal bed break, each unit increase in BMI increased the VAS pain by 0.13 (p<0.0001)and men had 1.96 (p=0.0009)higher VAS scores then women. When the greater trochanter was placed at the maximal bed break, each unit increase in BMI decreased VAS pain by 0.19 (p<0.0001) and women had 1.55 (p=0.0002)higher VAS pain scores then men. CONCLUSIONS: In awake volunteers, the pressure at the iliac crest or greater trochanter at the break of the bed increases by increasing the bed angle. Women with a lower BMI had high VAS pain scores when their greater trochanter was at maximal bed break. Men with higher BMI had high VAS pain scores when their iliac crest was at maximal bed break. An awareness of the iliac crest or greater trochanter at the break of the bed should be considered to prevent pain and increased pressure based on the patient's sex and BMI.

In vitro comparison of endplate preparation between four mini-open interbody fusion approaches.

PURPOSE: Discectomy and endplate preparation are important steps in interbody fusion for ensuring sufficient arthrodesis. While modern less-invasive approaches for lumbar interbody fusion have gained in popularity, concerns exist regarding their ability to allow for adequate disc space and endplate preparation. Thus, the purpose of this study was to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate and compare disc space and endplate preparation achieved with four less-invasive approaches for lumbar interbody fusion in cadaveric spines. METHODS: A total of 24 disc spaces (48 endplates) from L2 to L5 were prepared in eight cadaveric torsos using mini-open anterior lumbar interbody fusion (mini-ALIF), minimally invasive posterior lumbar interbody fusion (MAS PLIF), minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MAS TLIF) or minimally invasive lateral, transpsoas interbody fusion (XLIF) on two specimens each, for a total of six levels and 12 endplates prepared per procedure type. Following complete discectomy and endplate preparation, spines were excised and split axially at the interbody disc spaces. Endplates were digitally photographed and evaluated using image analysis software. Area of endplate preparation was measured and qualitative evaluation was also performed to grade the quality of preparation. RESULTS: The XLIF approach resulted in the greatest relative area of endplate preparation (58.3 %) while mini-ALIF resulted in the lowest at 35.0 %. Overall, there were no differences in percentage of preparation between cranial and caudal endplates, though this was significantly different in the XLIF group (65 vs 52 %, respectively). ALL damage was observed in 3 MAS TLIF levels. Percentage of endplate that was deemed to have complete disc removal was highest in XLIF group with 90 % compared to 65 % in MAS TLIF group, 43 % in MAS PLIF, and 40 % in mini-ALIF group. Endplate damage area was highest in the MAS TLIF group at 48 % and lowest in XLIF group at 4 %. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that adequate endplate preparation for interbody fusion can be achieved utilizing various minimally invasive approach techniques (mini-ALIF, MAS TLIF, MAS PLIF, XLIF), however, XLIF appears to provide a greater area of and more complete endplate preparation.

Radiation exposure during the lateral lumbar interbody fusion procedure and techniques to reduce radiation dosage.

BACKGROUND: Fluoroscopy is widely used in spine surgery to assist with graft and hardware placement. Previous studies have not measured radiation exposure to a surgeon during minimally invasive lateral lumbar spine surgery for single-level discectomy and interbody cage insertion. This study was performed to model and measure radiation exposure to a surgeon during spine surgery using the direct lateral lumbar procedure. METHODS: The study was performed using a mannequin substituting for the surgeon and a cadaver substituting for the patient. Radiation was measured with dosimeters attached to 6 locations on the mannequin using a OEC Medical Systems 9800 C-arm fluoroscope (OEC Medical Systems, Salt Lake City, Utah). Three different fluoroscopy setups were tested: a standard imaging setup, a standard setup using pulsed-mode fluoroscopy, and a reversed setup. The experiment was tested 5 times per setup, and the dosimeters' values were recorded. RESULTS: The highest amount of radiation exposure occurred when obtaining an anteroposterior view of the spine in the standard setup. Compared with the standard setup, the pulsed-mode setting decreased the radiation exposure to the mannequin by a factor of 6 times (P < .001). Compared with the standard setup, the reversed setup also decreased the radiation exposure to the mannequin by a factor of 6 times (P < .001) and it had the lowest amount of radiation exposure to the eye level (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Care should be taken when one is obtaining an anteroposterior view of the lumbar spine during lateral lumbar procedures to limit radiation exposure. Radiation exposure to the surgeon can be greatly minimized by using either a pulsed imaging mode or the reversed setup. The reversed setup has the lowest amount of radiation exposure to the eye level.

Predictors and prevalence of patients undergoing additional kyphoplasty procedures after an initial kyphoplasty procedure.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Vertebral cement augmentation, including kyphoplasty, has been shown to be a successful treatment for pain relief for vertebral compression fracture (VCF). Patients can sustain additional symptomatic VCFs that may require additional surgical intervention. PURPOSE: To examine the prevalence and predictors of patients who sustain additional symptomatic VCFs that were treated with kyphoplasty. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of patients who previously underwent kyphoplasty for VCFs and had additional VCFs that were treated with kyphoplasty. PATIENT SAMPLE: A total of 256 patients underwent kyphoplasty for VCFs from 2000 to 2007 at a single medical center. OUTCOME MEASURES: The outcome measure of interest was the need for an additional kyphoplasty procedure for a symptomatic VCF. METHODS: Risk factors such as age, sex, smoking status, and steroid use were assessed, as well as bisphosphonate use. Sagittal spinal alignment via Cobb angles for thoracic, thoracolumbar, and lumbar regions was assessed. RESULTS: About 22.2% of the patients had an additional symptomatic VCF that was treated with a kyphoplasty procedure. Steroid use was the only significant risk factor for predicting patients with additional symptomatic VCFs who underwent additional kyphoplasty. The average time to the second VCF was 33 days. Adjacent-level VCFs were most common in the thoracic and thoracolumbar spine. Bisphosphonate use was not shown to be protective of preventing additional VCFs during this follow-up period. CONCLUSION: This is the first single-center review of a large cohort of patients who underwent additional-level kyphoplasty for symptomatic VCFs after an index kyphoplasty procedure. Our results suggest that patients with a VCF who use chronic oral steroids should be carefully monitored for the presence of additional symptomatic VCFs that may need surgical intervention. Patients with prior thoracic VCFs who have additional back pain should be reevaluated for a possible adjacent-level fracture.

Perioperative complications of combined anterior and posterior cervical decompression and fusion crossing the cervico-thoracic junction.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review. OBJECTIVE: To determine the perioperative complications for patients undergoing single stage, multilevel, anterior, and posterior cervical fusions crossing the cervico-thoracic junction. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Cervical spinal stenosis with kyphosis involving 3 or more disc levels is often treated via combined anterior decompression and posterior instrumented fusion. When long cervical fusions end at C7, many surgeons extend the posterior fusion across the cervico-thoracic junction to reduce the potential for adjacent segment breakdown. Perioperative complications associated with these procedures have not previously been described. METHODS: A retrospective review of perioperative complications occurring in patients undergoing combined anterior decompression and posterior instrumented arthrodesis crossing the cervico-thoracic junction. The effect of operative time, blood loss, and fluid replacement on the need for extended intubation was tested with a Fisher exact test. RESULTS: Thirteen patients fit the inclusion criteria. Nine patients experienced at least 1 complication (69%, 9/13) during the perioperative period, comprising 16 minor and 5 major complications. The most common complications were dysphagia (46%, 6/19) and airway edema requiring extended intubation (38%, 5/13). CONCLUSION: Complications are frequent following these procedures, although the majority were minor and resolved without lasting effect. Airway edema requiring prolonged intubation or reintubation was frequent. With the numbers available, we were unable to show a relationship between the need for extended intubation and variables including operative time, blood loss, or volume of fluid replacement.

Ketorolac and spinal fusion: does the perioperative use of ketorolac really inhibit spinal fusion?

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of postoperative use of ketorolac (Toradol) on spinal fusion in humans. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The value of parenteral ketorolac in postoperative analgesia has been well documented across surgical specialties. However, some studies have shown that ketorolac may adversely affect osteogenic activity and fracture healing. METHODS: A total of 405 consecutive patients who underwent primary lumbar posterolateral intertransverse process fusion with pedicle screw instrumentation were included in this retrospective study. A subtotal of 228 patients received Toradol after surgery for adjunctive analgesia. Each patient received a mandatory dose of 30 mg intravenously every 6 hours for 48 hours. The same surgeon performed the fusion procedure on all of these patients. Historical controls included 177 patients who did not receive Toradol after surgery. The minimum follow-up period was 24 months. Nonunions were diagnosed by analyzing sequential radiographs, flexion-extension radiographs, and computed tomography with multiplanar reconstructions. The gold standard of surgical exploration was performed in symptomatic patients with diagnostic ambiguity or nonunions diagnosed by imaging. RESULTS: There were no smokers in the study population. Pseudarthrosis was identified in 12 of 228 patients (5.3%) who received Toradol after surgery, and in 11 of 177 patients (6.2%) who did not. There was no significant difference detected in the nonunion rates between the two groups (P > 0.05, chi2 method). CONCLUSION: Use of ketorolac after spinal fusion surgery in humans, limited to 48 hours after surgery for adjunctive analgesia, has no significant effect on ultimate fusion rates.

Mechanical comparison of posterior instrumentation constructs for spinal fixation across the cervicothoracic junction.

STUDY DESIGN: A biomechanical study comparing 4 different posterior implant configurations for instrumentation across the cervicothoracic junction. OBJECTIVE: To compare mechanical parameters during flexion bending and axial rotation testing among 4 different posterior cervicothoracic rod-and-screw constructs. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Several posterior rod constructs are available for instrumentation across the cervicothoracic junction. No studies have examined the mechanical properties of constructs of varying rod diameters and rod connector types. METHODS: Four different rod-and-screw-based constructs for posterior cervicothoracic instrumentation underwent flexion bending or axial rotation testing. Stiffness, ultimate and yield forces (torques) were compared using an analysis of variance. RESULTS: Significantly lower stiffness, ultimate and yield force (torque) was observed with a 3.5-mm rod construct compared with the 3 other constructs. No significant differences were demonstrated between a dual diameter rod (3.5 mm to 5.5 mm) and a solid domino connector extending between 3.5-mm and 5.5-mm rods. A hinged domino connector construct between 3.5-mm and 5.5-mm rods had similar stiffness but lower ultimate and yield force from either the dual diameter rod or the solid domino construct. CONCLUSIONS: The present results demonstrate that the 3.5-mm rod-and-screw construct is the weakest configuration for posterior fixation across the cervicothoracic junction. The dual diameter rod and fixed domino connector constructs were the strongest and demonstrated similar values for yield and ultimate force.