Finite Element Study to Evaluate the Biomechanical Performance of the Spine After Augmenting Percutaneous Pedicle Screw Fixation With Kyphoplasty in the Treatment of Burst Fractures

2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shady S. Elmasry ◽  
Shihab S. Asfour ◽  
Francesco Travascio

Percutaneous pedicle screw fixation (PPSF) is a well-known minimally invasive surgery (MIS) employed in the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures (TBF). However, hardware failure and loss of angular correction are common limitations caused by the poor support of the anterior column of the spine. Balloon kyphoplasty (KP) is another MIS that was successfully used in the treatment of compression fractures by augmenting the injured vertebral body with cement. To overcome the limitations of stand-alone PPSF, it was suggested to augment PPSF with KP as a surgical treatment of TBF. Yet, little is known about the biomechanical alteration occurred to the spine after performing such procedure. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the immediate post-operative biomechanical performance of stand-alone PPSF, stand-alone-KP, and KP-augmented PPSF procedures. Novel three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) models of the thoracolumbar junction that describes the fractured spine and the three investigated procedures were developed and tested under mechanical loading conditions. The spinal stiffness, stresses at the implanted hardware, and the intradiscal pressure at the upper and lower segments were measured and compared. The results showed no major differences in the measured parameters between stand-alone PPSF and KP-augmented PPSF procedures, and demonstrated that the stand-alone KP may restore the stiffness of the intact spine. Accordingly, there was no immediate post-operative biomechanical advantage in augmenting PPSF with KP when compared to stand-alone PPSF, and fatigue testing may be required to evaluate the long-term biomechanical performance of such procedures.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Lou ◽  
Weiyang Yu ◽  
Zhenzhong Chen ◽  
Kangtao Jin ◽  
Jiawei Gao ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: This study aimed to assess the feasibility as well as the clinical and radiological outcomes of posterior percutaneous pedicle screw fixation (PPSF) combined with anterior monosegmental column reconstruction in unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures. Methods: From January 2011 to August 2017, thirty-five patients with unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures were enrolled in this study. The patients underwent posterior PPSF combined surgery with delayed anterior monosegmental reconstruction utilizing titanium mesh cages. Clinical outcomes, radiological parameters, and treatment-related complications were assessed. Results: The mean age of the patients was 44.8 years. The mean operative time and blood loss were 205 min and 560 ml, respectively. The mean follow-up period was 25.2 months. The Visual analog scale (VAS) pain score was significantly improved postoperatively, and the improvement was maintained until the final follow-up. The mean sagittal kyphosis was corrected from 16.3 preoperatively to 1.5 postoperatively, which increased slightly to 2.6 at the final follow-up. In 24 patients with neurologic dysfunction, 21 (87.5 %) patients had improvement after surgery. None obvious subsidence of the titanium mesh cage and none dislodgement, loosening or breakage of the instrumentation was observed in any patient during the follow-up period. Solid bony fusion was achieved in all patients. Conclusions: Combined posterior PPSF with delayed anterior monosegmental column reconstruction for unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures can produce good clinical and radiological outcomes.


2016 ◽  
Vol 02 (04) ◽  
pp. e131-e138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nitin Agarwal ◽  
Phillip Choi ◽  
Raymond Sekula

Introduction Traumatic thoracolumbar burst fracture is a common pathology without a clear consensus on best treatment approach. Minimally invasive approaches are being investigated due to potential benefits in recovery time and morbidity. We examine long-term resolution of symptoms of traumatic thoracolumbar burst fractures treated with percutaneous posterior pedicle screw fixation. Methods Retrospective clinical review of seven patients with spinal trauma who presented with thoracolumbar burst fracture from July 2012 to April 2013 and were treated with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation. Electronic patient charts and radiographic imaging were reviewed for initial presentation, fracture characteristics, operative treatment, and postoperative course. Results The patients had a median age of 29 years (range 18 to 57), and 57% were men. The median Thoracolumbar Injury Classification and Severity Scale score was 4 (range 2 to 9). All patients had proper screw placement and uneventful postoperative courses given the severity of their individual traumas. Five of seven patients were reached for long-term follow-up of greater than 28 months. Six of seven patients had excellent pain control and stability at their last follow-up. One patient required revision surgery for noncatastrophic hardware failure. Conclusion Percutaneous pedicle screw fixation for the treatment of unstable thoracolumbar burst fracture may provide patients with durable benefits and warrants further investigation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 2050313X2098779
Author(s):  
Shota Miyoshi ◽  
Tadao Morino ◽  
Haruhiko Takeda ◽  
Hiroshi Nakata ◽  
Masayuki Hino ◽  
...  

A 74-year-old man developed bilateral lower limb spastic paresis. He was diagnosed with thoracic spondylotic myelopathy presumably caused by mechanical stress that was generated in the intervertebral space (T1-T2) between a vertebral bone bridge (C5-T1) due to diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis after anterior fixation of the lower cervical spine and a vertebral bone bridge (T2-T7) due to diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis in the upper thoracic spine. Treatment included posterior decompression (T1-T2 laminectomy) and percutaneous pedicle screw fixation at the C7-T4 level. Six months after surgery, the patient could walk with a cane, and the vertebral bodies T1-T2 were bridged without bone grafting. For thoracic spondylotic myelopathy associated with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, decompression and percutaneous pedicle screw fixation are effective therapies.


2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 150-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarek Ahmed Aly

<p>Posterior pedicle screw fixation has become a popular method for treating thoracolumbar burst fractures. However, it remains unclear whether additional fixation of more segments could improve clinical and radiological outcomes. This meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of fixation levels with pedicle screw fixation for thoracolumbar burst fractures. MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Springer, and Google Scholar were searched for relevant randomized and quasirandomized controlled trials that compared the clinical and radiological efficacy of short versus long segment for thoracolumbar burst fractures managed by posterior pedicle screw fixation. Risk of bias in included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Based on predefined inclusion criteria, Nine eligible trials with a total of 365 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Results were expressed as risk difference for dichotomous outcomes and standard mean difference for continuous outcomes with 95% confidence interval. Baseline characteristics were similar between the short and long segment fixation groups. No significant difference was identified between the two groups regarding radiological outcome, functional outcome, neurologic improvement, and implant failure rate. The results of this meta-analysis suggested that extension of fixation was not necessary when thoracolumbar burst fracture was treated by posterior pedicle screw fixation. More randomized controlled trials with high quality are still needed in the future.</p>


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