Pedicle Screw Fixation with Kyphoplasty Decreases the Fracture Risk of the Treated and Adjacent Non-treated Vertebral Bodies:a Finite Element Analysis

Adjacent vertebral fractures are common in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures（OVCFs） after kyphoplasty.This finite element study was to examine whether short segment pedicle screw fixation（PSF） with kyphoplasty may decrease the fracture risk of the treated and adjacent non-treated vertebrae after kyphoplasty for OVCFs.By simulating cement augmentation with or without short segment pedicle screw fixation（PSF）,two tridimensional,anatomically detailed finite element models of the T10–L2 functional spinal junction were developed.The insertion of pedicle screws into the intact vertebra apparently decreased the stress distribution of the treated vertebra in vertical compression and other load situations.The stress distribution in the bone structures of the intact vertebra adjacent to the intact-screwed vertebra was much less than that in the one adjacent to the treated vertebra.The insertion of pedicle screws into the intact vertebra greatly decreased the maximum displacement of the cortical bones and cancellous bones of the vertebrae.Our results indicated that short segment PSF with kyphoplasty may decrease the fracture risk of the treated and adjacent non-treated vertebrae in the management of OVCFs.

Successful outcomes of unilateral vs bilateral pedicle screw fixation for lumbar interbody fusion:A meta-analysis with evidence grading

BACKGROUND Whether it’s better to adopt unilateral pedicle screw(UPS)fixation or to use bilateral pedicle screw(BPS)one for lumbar degenerative diseases is still controversially undetermined.AIM To make a comparison between UPS and BPS fixation as to how they work efficaciously and safely in patients suffering from lumbar degenerative diseases.METHODS We have searched a lot in the databases through 2020 with index terms such as“unilateral pedicle screw fixation”and“bilateral pedicle screw fixation.”Only randomized controlled trials and some prospective cohort studies could be found,yielding 15 studies.The intervention was unilateral pedicle screw fixation;Primarily We’ve got outcomes of complications and fusion rates.Secondarily,we’ve achieved outcomes regarding total blood loss,operative time,as well as length of stay.Softwares were installed and utilized for subgroup analysis,analyzing forest plots,sensitivity,heterogeneity,forest plots,publication bias,and risk of bias.RESULTS Fifteen previous cases of study including 992 participants have been involved in our meta-analysis.UPS had slightly lower effects on fusion rate[relative risk(RR)=0.949,95%CI:0.910 to 0.990,P=0.015],which contributed mostly to this metaanalysis,and similar complication rates(RR=1.140,95%CI:0.792 to 1.640,P=0.481),Δvisual analog scale[standard mean difference(SMD)=0.178,95%CI:-0.021 to 0.378,P=0.080],andΔOswestry disability index(SMD=-0.254,95%CI:-0.820 to 0.329,P=0.402).In contrast,an obvious difference has been observed inΔJapanese Orthopedic Association(JOA)score(SMD=0.305,95%CI:0.046 to 0.563,P=0.021),total blood loss(SMD=-1.586,95%CI:-2.182 to-0.990,P=0.000),operation time(SMD=-2.831,95%CI:-3.753 to-1.909,P=0.000),and length of hospital stay(SMD=-0.614,95%CI:-1.050 to-0.179,P=0.006).CONCLUSION Bilateral fixation is more effective than unilateral fixation regarding fusion rate after lumbar interbody fusion.However,JOA,operation time,total blood loss,as well as length of stay were improved for unilateral fixation.

Learning curves of robot-assisted pedicle screw fixations based on the cumulative sum test

BACKGROUND In robot-assisted(RA)spine surgery,the relationship between the surgical outcome and the learning curve remains to be evaluated.AIM To analyze the learning curve of RA pedicle screw fixation(PSF)through fitting the operation time curve based on the cumulative summation method.METHODS RA PSFs that were initially completed by two surgeons at the Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from July 2016 to March 2019 were analyzed retrospectively.Based on the cumulative sum of the operation time,the learning curves of the two surgeons were drawn and fit to polynomial curves.The learning curve was divided into the early and late stages according to the shape of the fitted curve.The operation time and screw accuracy were compared between the stages.RESULTS The turning point of the learning curves from Surgeons A and B appeared in the 18th and 17th cases,respectively.The operation time[150(128,188)min vs 120(105,150)min,P=0.002]and the screw accuracy(87.50%vs 96.30%,P=0.026)of RA surgeries performed by Surgeon A were significantly improved after he completed 18 cases.In the case of Surgeon B,the operation time(177.35±28.18 min vs 150.00±34.64 min,P=0.024)was significantly reduced,and the screw accuracy(91.18%vs 96.15%,P=0.475)was slightly improved after the surgeon completed 17 RA surgeries.CONCLUSION After completing 17 to 18 cases of RA PSFs,surgeons can pass the learning phase of RA technology.The operation time is reduced afterward,and the screw accuracy shows a trend of improvement.

Evaluation of Percutaneous Pedicle Screw Fixation in Patients with Pyogenic Spondylitis of the Thoracolumbar Spine

Background: Basic principle for the treatment of pyogenic spondylitis (PS) is conservative care, but surgical intervention is often required when conservative treatment may fail. We have experienced many conservative cases of various complications due to long-term bed rest and poor pain control. Recently we have adopted percutaneous pedicle screw (PPS) fixation for the treatment of PS as a minimally invasive spine stabilization (MISt) fusion to reduce such morbidity of the conservative care. Objective: To evaluate the impact of PPS fixation in patients with PS. Study Design: A retrospective analysis of the medical records. Subjects, Methods: We reviewed 54 consecutive patients who underwent treatment in our hospital for PS during 2005-2018 and observed for more than 12 months. Of those we excluded cases showing effectiveness to initial treatment (it was defined fever relief or C-reactive protein (CRP) inversion in 3 weeks of antibiotics) so that this study is a retrospective study in cases showing initial treatment resistance. Finally, this study included 29 cases. Medical records of these 29 cases were reviewed for baseline, organism isolated and its detection rate, the clinical outcome in 12 months (Discharge, Transfer, Death), the period from the first visit to our hospital to fever relief, CRP inversion, ambulation, and Discharge or Transfer. Results: These cases were divided into two groups, the conservative group (C-group): 17 cases, and the PPS group (P-group): 12 cases. There is no statistically significant difference in fever relief (p = 0.051) and CRP inversion (p = 0.208). The period to ambulation and discharge or transfer was significantly shorter in group P (p = 0.020, p = 0.031). 1-Year survival rate was 92% in the P-group, and 71% in the C-group. There is no statistically significant difference (p = 0.354) between the two groups. The rate of Discharge to home and care facility is 58% in P-group, and 47% in C-group. And the rate of Transfer is 34% in P-group, and 35% in C-group. Conclusion: PPS fixation was effective to achieve shortening the period to ambulation and discharge or transfer. But it was not effective in infection control. This suggests that PPS fixation should be aggressively administered to patients who can expect pain relief and early ambulation by PPS fixation in the patient of PS showing resistance to initial treatment.

Investigation of optical reflectance from different animal vertebra along the fixation trajectory of pedicle screw in frequency domain

Accurate placement of pedicle screw(PS)is crucial in spinal surgery.Developing new real-time intra-operative monitoring and navigation methods is an important direction of clinical appli-cation research.In this paper,we studied the spectrum along the fixation trajectory of PS in frequency domain to tackle the accuracy problem.Fresh porcine vertebrae,bovine vertebrae and ovine vertebrae were measured with the near-infrared spectrum(NIR)device to obtain the reflected spectrum from the vertebrae.Along the fixation trajectory of PS,average energy from different groups was calculated and used for identifying different tissues and compared to achieve the optimal recognition factor.Compared with the time domain approach,the frequency domain method could divide the spectra measured at different tissue points into different groups more stably and accurately,which could serve as a new method to assist the PS insertion.The results gained from this study are significant to the development of hi-tech medical instruments with independent intellectual property rights.

Unilateral pedicle screw fixation combined with lumbar interbody fusion for the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases

Objective To explore the feasibility and efficiency of the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases after transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) and posterolateral fusion (PLF) procedures in which unilateral pedicle screw fixation was used.

Safety factors for anterior pedicle screw fixation tunnel in axis

Objective To investigate feasibility and safety of anterior pedicle screw fixation tunnel in the axis so as to provide theoretic evidence for further clinical application.Methods Thirty-two dry axis specimens were used foranterior

Atlantoaxial pedicle screw fixation for old odontoid fracture combined with atlantoaxial instability

Objective To explore the clinical effect of the trans-atlantoaxial pedicle screw-rod internal fixation and fusion in treatment of old odontoid fracture combined with atlantoaxial instability. Methods The study involved 48 patients with

Free-hand cervical pedicle screw fixation for upper cervical fracture and instability

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of the free-hand cervical pedicle screw fixation in treatment of the upper cervical fracture and instability. Methods A retrospective review was performed on 15 patients

The application of C1-C2 pedicle screw internal fixation on the upper cervical diseases of children

Objective To report five cases of puerile (【9 years) atlantoaxial instability which underwent C1-C2 pedicle screw internal fixation by posterior approach,and to introduce the surgical technique and the key point

Clinical application of improved 2D computer-assisted fluoroscopic navigation through simulating a 3D vertebrae image to guide pedicle screw internal fixation

Objective To study the effect of using improved 2D computer-assisted fluoroscopic navigation through simulating 3D vertebrae image to guide pedicle screw internal fixation.Methods Posterior pedicle screw internal fixation,distraction