First results of multicortical screw anchoring compared with conventional bicortical screw placement in the sacrum: A biomechanical investigation of a new screw design

Prediction of Sacral Screw Loosening after Lumbosacral Surgeries Involving Rigid Fixation of Sacral Bone Using Preoperative Computed Tomography Scans

Objective

To find a preoperative computed tomography-based method to predict the incidence of sacral screw loosening and assist surgical planning.

Methods

Surgically treated patients for degenerative lumbosacral disorders with rigid pedicle screw fixation of patients with L5-S1 vertebra in our center from January 2016 to January 2021 were retrospectively included in the current study. CT scan attenuation of the horizontal plane of the sacrum was measured with Hounsfield units (HU). Postoperative X-ray tests were used to diagnose screw loosening. The data was analyzed by independent sample t-tests, X² analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, and ROC curve analysis.

Results

A total of 162 (114 male, 48 female, average age 63.7 ± 7.3 years) patients were included in the final analysis. Significant differences were found between the screw loosening group and nonloosening group concerning the HU value of the sacrum at the horizontal plane (P < 0.01). In ROC curve analysis, AUC was 0.674 (95% CI: 0.592-0.756). A cutoff of 200 HU provided 64.8% sensitivity and 62.4% specificity, and a cutoff of 150 HU provided 90.2% sensitivity.

Conclusions

Analyzing 162 patients with at least 12 months of follow-up, we propose cutoff CT attenuation values of 200 HU and 150 HU to take moderate and radical measures of screw augmentation to prevent screw loosening in the sacral bone.

CORRECTION OF THE SPINAL SAGITTAL PLANE: THE APPLICATION OF CONVERGENT OR DIVERGENT SCREWS

ABSTRACT Objective To present a new principle for correction of the sagittal plane of the spine through the convergent or divergent placement of monoaxial pedicle screws in this plane, associated with compression or distraction, to provide lordotizing or kyphotizing leverage force. Method A statistical mechanical study of twenty-eight fixations in synthetic spine segments was performed. In fifteen pieces, pedicle screws were applied to the ends of the segments with positioning convergent to the center of the fixation. They were attached to the straight rods and subjected to compression force. The other thirteen segments were fixed with pedicle screws in a direction divergent to the center of the fixation, attached to the straight rods, and subjected to distraction force. Results To create kyphosis in the 15 synthetic segments of the spine, the mean pre-fixation Cobb angle was - 0.7° and the mean post-fixation angle was +15°. To create lordosis in the 13 segments, the mean pre-fixation Cobb angle was +1° and the mean post-fixation angle was +18°. The difference was confirmed by statistical mechanical tests and considered significant. However, there is no relevant difference between the mean angles for lordosis and kyphosis formation. Conclusions It was concluded that the correction of the sagittal plane of the spine by applying the new instrumentation method is efficient. A statistical mechanical test confirmed that the difference in Cobb degrees between pre- and post-fixation of the synthetic spine segments was considered significant in the creation of both kyphosis and lordosis. Level of evidence II C; Statistical mechanical study of synthetic spine segments.