• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.229-234
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• 2015

Objective : Pedicle screw fixation for spine arthrodesis is a useful procedure for the treatment of spinal disorders. However, instrument failure often occurs, and pedicle screw loosening is the initial step of a range of complications. The authors recently used a modified transpedicular polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) screw augmentation technique to overcome pedicle screw loosening. Here, they report on the laboratory testing of pedicle screws inserted using this modified technique. Methods : To evaluate pullout strengths three cadaveric spinal columns were used. Three pedicle screw insertion methods were utilized to compare pullout strength; the three methods used were; control (C), traditional transpedicular PMMA augmentation technique (T), and the modified transpedicular augmentation technique (M). After control screws had been pulled out, loosening with instrument was made. Screw augmentations were executed and screw pullout strength was rechecked. Results : Pedicle screws augmented using the modified technique for pedicle screw loosening had higher pullout strengths than the control ($1106.2{\pm}458.0N$ vs. $741.2{\pm}269.5N$; p=0.001). Traditional transpedicular augmentation achieved a mean pullout strength similar to that of the control group ($657.5{\pm}172.3N$ vs. $724.5{\pm}234.4N$; p=0.537). The modified technique had higher strength than the traditional PMMA augmentation technique ($1070.8{\pm}358.6N$ vs. $652.2{\pm}185.5N$; p=0.023). Conclusion : The modified PMMA transpedicular screw augmentation technique is a straightforward, effective surgical procedure for treating pedicle screw loosening, and exhibits greater pullout strength than traditional PMMA transpedicular augmentation. However, long-term clinical evaluation is required.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.248-251
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• 2007

Atlantoaxial rotatory dislocation [AARD] is an uncommon disorder of childhood in which clinical diagnosis is generally difficult and often made late. It is very rare in adults because of the unique biomechanical features of the atlantoaxial articulation. We report a case of post-traumatic AARD in an adult. Reduction was difficult to obtain by skull traction and gentle manipulation. Therefore, the patient was treated surgically by an open reduction, transpedicular screw fixation, and posterior C1-2 wiring with graft. The normal atlantoaxial relation was restored with disappearance of torticollis. Postoperatively, the patient remains neurologically intact and has radiographic documentation of fusion. Atlantoaxial transpedicular screw fixation can be one of the treatment options for the AARD.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.75-78
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• 2011

We report a case of pedicle screw loosening treated by modified transpedicular screw augmentation technique using polymethylmethacrylate(PMMA), which used the anchoring effect of hardened PMMA. A 56-year-old man who had an L3/4/5 fusion operation 3 years ago complained of continuous low back pain after this operation. The computerized tomography showed a radiolucent halo around the pedicle screw at L5. We augmented the L5 pedicle screw with modified pedicle screw augmentation technique using PMMA and performed an L3/4/5 pedicle screw fixation without hook or operation field extension. This modified technique is a kind of transpedicular stiffness augmentation using PMMA for the dead space around the loosed screw. After filling the dead space with 1-2 cc of PMMA, we inserted a small screw. Once the PMMA hardened, we removed the small screw and inserted a thicker screw along the existing screw threading to improve the pedicle screws' pullout strength. At 10 months' follow-up, x-ray showed strong fusion of L3/4/5. The visual analogue scale (VAS) of his back pain was improved from 9 to 5. This modified transpedicular screw augmentation with PMMA using anchoring effect is a Simple and effective surgical technique for pedicle screw loosening. However, clinical analyses of long-term follow-up and biomechanical studies are needed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.360-365
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• 2006

Objective : This is a cadaver study to assess the accuracy of three cervical screw insertion techniques; the blind technique [Group I], the laminotomy technique [Group II], and the funnel technique [Group III]. Methods : Ten human cadavers embalmed with formaldehyde were prepared. After exposing the spinous processes, the laminas and the lateral masses, titanium alloy transpedicular screws were inserted from C3 to C7. A total of 100 pedicles were ramdomly assigned to one of three techniques [the blind technique : 31 screws, the laminotomy technique : 51 screws, the funnel technique: 18 screws]. Axial computed tomography with 1-mm slices, and sagittal and coronal reformation were performed to identify the accuracy of the screw insertion and the anatomic relationships. Results : In Group I, 9 screws [29%] were either contained within or penetrated less than 1mm, which were rated as successful. In Group II, 24 screws [47%] were successful. In Group III, 16 screws [89%] were successful. In the multiple comparison, there was a statistically significant difference between Groups I and III and between Groups II and III [$X^2$ test and Bonfenoni test]. Conclusion : The funnel technique can help a surgeon's understanding about the cervical pedicle more precisely than the other two techniques. The funnel technique is less dependent on lateral soft tissue retraction state.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1997 no.05
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• pp.437-438
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• 1997

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1456-1460
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• 2000

Objectives : Transpedicular screw fixation has become an important method for internal fixation in variety of disorders. However, acceleration of degeneration at the adjacent segment in any follow. The goal of this study is to review the change of motion ranges of vertebral joints adjacent to fused level in lumbar spine. Methods : This study consists of 22 patients with degenerative spinal instability. Treatment of spinal instability includes posterior fusion with transpedicular screw fixation or transpedicular screw fixation with posterior lumbar interbody fusion. The flexion-extension angle(FEA) was measured from dynamic views of lumbar spine taken both at preoperative and post operative period. Results : The FEA of upper vertebral joint adjacent(FEA-u) to a fused L4-5 level was increased(p＝0.010). The FEA-u was increased in case of L5-S1 fusion(p＝0.025). The change of FEA-u in case of L5-S1 fusion was greater than that in L4-5 fusion(p＝0.013). Conclusion : After L4-5 fusion, there seems to be more meaningful increase in FEA of L3-4 than that of L5-S1. The reason may be due to the damage of L3-4 facet joints during the operation, the other possible explanation may be the anatomical stability of L5-S1 vertebral joint. The change of FEA-u of L5-S1 fusion is increased more than that of L4-5 fusion. Because there are compensations in the adjacent vertebrae both above and below the fused L4-5, the compensatory motion in FEA-u of L5-S1 fusion was greater than that of the L4-5 fusion.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.119-122
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• 2008

The crossing laminar screw fixation might be the most recently developed approach among various fixation techniques for C2. The new construct has stability comparable to transarticular or transpedicular screw fixation without risk of vertebral artery injury. Quantitative anatomical studies about C2 vertebra suggest significant variation in the thickness of C2 lamina as well as cross sectional area of junction of lamina and spinous process. We present an elderly patient who underwent an occipito-cervical stabilization incorporating crossed C2 laminar screw fixation. We preoperatively recognized that she had low profiles of C2 lamina, and thus made a modification of trajectory for the inferiorly crossing screw. We introduce a simple modification of crossing C2 laminar screw technique to improve stability in patients with low laminar profiles.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1995 no.05
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• pp.23-26
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• 1995

The objectives of the present study are 1)to find the effect of the diameter of transpedicular screws on their fixational strength in pedicles under static pull-out loading, 2)to determine the biomechanical correlation between the pedicle diameter and the screw diameter, and 3)to find the effects of other factors in the screw design, such as materials, screw pitch, thread height and shape on their fixational strength. Biomechanical tests (Test I) were performed to evaluate the effect of the screw diameter on pull-out strength by using 60 porcine pedicls and six groups of custom-made pedicle screws with different diameters (the major and the minor diameter of the screws used in the testing varied from 4mm upto 9mm and from 3mm upto 8mm, respectively) while all other factors (materials, screw pitch, thread height and shape etc.) were fixed. In Test II, by using 61 porcine pedicles, the relationship between the ratio of the pedicle diameter and the screw diameter(=aspect ratio) of the custum-made screw and the pull-out strength of the screw was investigated. Test III was performed with 94 porcine pedicles and 8 different types of the commercial screws from 6 major productors in order to determine the effect of the screw diameter, pitch and the thread shape on the pull-out strength of the screw, respectively. The results of Test I showed that the axial pull-out resistance of the screw could be increased prportionaly to the screw diameter(P<0.05). But this increase in the pull-out resistance did not found when the screws of 4mm or 9mm in the diameter were employed. It was found from the results of Test II that the screws had its maximum pull-out resistant force when the aspect ratio ranging 40 - 69% (P<0.05). based on the results for the major diameter against the minor diameter of screw, the maximal pull-out resistance was found at 60-65% (P<0.05). According to these biomechanical testing results, it seems that the screw with a moderately large pitch is more desirable and the buttress-shaped screw can provide stronger fixation than the V-shape one can, if other designal factor and conditions were fixed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.181-188
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• 2009

Objective : To evaluate the anatomical parameters that must be considered when performing thoracic transpedicular or extrapedicular screw fixation. Methods : We selected 958 vertebrae (1,916 pedicles) from 98 patients for analysis. Eight parameters were measured from CT scans : the transverse outer pedicular diameter, transverse inner pedicular diameter, length, angle, chord length of the pedicles and the transverse width, angle, and chord length of the pedicle-rib units. Results : The age of the patients ranged from 21 to 82 years (mean: 48.2 years) and there were 57 men and 41 women. The narrowest transverse outer pedicular diameter was at T5 (4.4 mm). The narrowest pedicle length was at T1 (15.9 mm). For pedicle angle, T1 was 31.6 degrees, which was the most convergent angle, and it showed the tendency of the lower the level, the lesser the convergent angle. The chord length showed a horizontal pattern with similar values at all levels. For the PRU width, T5 showed a similar pattern to the pedicle width at 13.4 mm. For the PRU angle, T1 was the largest angle at 46.2 degrees and the tendency was the lower the level. the narrower the angle. For chord length, T1 was the shortest at 46.9 mm and T8 was the longest at 60.1 mm. Conclusion : When transpedicular screw fixations carried out at the mid-thoracic level, special care must be taken because there is a high chance of danger of medial wall violation. In these circumstances, extrapedicular screw fixation may be considered as an alternative treatment.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.265-268
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• 2005

Objective : With the increasing popularity of pedicle screw fixation devices for several indications, the safety and reliability of screw insertion in the small pedicle has become a major issue. Many studies have investigated the accuracy of screw placement after pedicle screw fixation using various method. The reported displacement rates have been very different. The purpose of the study is to investigate the proper placement of pedicle screw insertion in the lumbar spine on 26 consecutive patients. Methods : Between September and December 2003, 26 consecutive patients [16women and 10men] were analyzed after transpedicular screw fixation of the lumbar and lumbosacral spine. After pedicle screw fixation in this study, 2-mm slices of CT scan were performed in all patients to detect caudal and cranial deviation of screw and medial and lateral deviation. Pedcile screw placement related complication was evaluated clinically. Results : A total of 144 inserted pedicle were analyzed in 26patients, and 58pedicle screws [40.3%] were detected to be improper placement. There were 14level [9.0%] of caudal or cranial deviation and 44level [30.6%] of medial or lateral deviation to the pedicle. Extra-pedicle placement was found on 4levels [2.7%] with only lease of neurologic injury. Conclusion : Proper screw placement, though complication rate is low, is important not only for clinical symptom but also for biomechanics. Further study for screw placement related biomechanical changes is needed.