Assessment of pedicle screw malposition rates in thoracolumbosacral spine: results of postoperative computed tomography in 100 patients
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the screw malpositions of patients who underwent transpedicular screw application in various elective and emergency conditions.
Material and Methods: 100 patients who underwent transpedicular screw application with various spinal pathologies between January 2012 and September 2016 were included in this retrospective study. Anteroposterior and lateral X-rays and thin section spinal computed tomography scans were performed within 72 hours after the operation. The data including age, gender, operation levels, number of screws placed, preoperative and postoperative neurological conditions, complications, number of screw malpositions and revision surgeries of the patients were gathered.
Results: A total of 692 transpedicular screws were applied to 100 cases. 610 (88.15%) of the 692 transpedicular screws placed were evaluated as normal. 82 screws (11.85%) were evaluated as malpositions and 5 of them were revised. According to Gertzbein classification; 20 screws were grade 1, 44 screws were grade 2 and 18 screws were grade 3. 4 patients had anterior perforation, 39 patients had medial perforation, 38 patients had lateral perforation and 1 patient had inferior perforation. There was a dominancy of thoracal levels in screw malpositions.
Conclusion: Thin section CT scans taken postoperatively was found to be the gold standard for detecting screw malpositions. We identified that malpositions were most frequently seen as medial pedicle wall perforations in the thoracal region due to anatomical structure of the pedicles.
Keywords
References
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