Intraoperative lateral wall breach simulation in the cadaveric spine and the impact of thread designs of screws on pullout strength in the osteoporotic thoracic vertebrae: A biomechanical study in human cadavers


Kaya O., Ozkunt O., SUNGUR M., Cakir M. S., Baydoğan M., SARIYILMAZ K.

Acta Orthopaedica et Traumatologica Turcica, cilt.58, sa.1, ss.57-61, 2024 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 58 Sayı: 1
  • Basım Tarihi: 2024
  • Doi Numarası: 10.5152/j.aott.2024.22067
  • Dergi Adı: Acta Orthopaedica et Traumatologica Turcica
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, EMBASE, Directory of Open Access Journals, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.57-61
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Biomechanics cadaveric study, Osteoporosis, Pedicle screw, Pullout strength, Thread design
  • Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Objective: This study aimed (1) to simulate pedicle screw pullout after intraoperative external wall perforation and (2) to assess restoration strength with different thread designs in the pedicle screw instrumentation for osteoporotic thoracic vertebrae. Methods: Twenty fresh-frozen human cadaveric thoracic vertebra bodies were prepared and divided into 4 groups: group 1, 5.5 mm × 45 mm polyaxial single thread pedicle screws (PASTS); group 2, after wall injury 5.5 mm × 45 mm PASTS; group 3, 6.5 mm × 45 mm PASTS after wall injury; and group 4: 6.5 mm × 45 mm polyaxial mixed-threaded screws after wall injury. While group 1 was the control group, groups 2, 3, and 4 were used as study groups after the lateral wall breach. All prepared screw units were placed on a universal pullout measurement testing device. Results: The mean bone mineral density for 20 thoracic vertebrae was 0.57 ± 0.12 g/cm2 (range 0.53-0.6 g/cm2). The mean pullout strength was 474.90 Newtons (N) for group 1, 412.85 N for group 2, 475.4 N for group 3, and 630.74N for group 4. The lateral wall breach caused a 14.1 % decrease in average pullout strength compared with the initial screw pullout. Mixed (double)-threaded screws increased pullout strength compared to 6.5 mm screws (P = .036) Conclusion: Using a 1 mm thicker polyaxial pedicle screw or mixed (double)-threaded pedicle screw seems to increase pullout strength; however, this was statistically significant only for group 4. In the thoracic spine, the redirection possibility of the pedicle screw is limited, and augmentation with cement will not be appropriate due to the risk of wall injury-related leakage. Therefore, care should be taken to avoid violating the lateral cortex by using appropriate pedicle entry points and trajectories.