title: Hole preparation techniques for transpedicle screws. Effect on pull-out strength from human cadaveric vertebrae.
abstract: In each of eight thoracolumbar human cadaveric vertebrae, a hole was made through one pedicle into the vertebral body with a drill bit and through the contralateral pedicle with a probe. Identical metal screws were implanted into the holes to equal depths, and maximum pull-out force was determined for each screw. Using a paired Student t test, no significant difference (P = 0.87) was found in pull-out strength between the screws implanted into drilled holes and those implanted into probed holes. In fact, the average pull-out strengths for the two groups differed by less than 2%. The pedicular cortex was broken through during hole preparation in 5 of the 16 pedicles: 3 as a result of drilling and 2 secondary to probing. The average pull-out strength of the screws in these five pedicles was 11.0% less than the average pull-out strength of the screws implanted into the contralateral intact pedicles. Although this does not represent a statistically significant difference (P = 0.15), it suggests that damaging the pedicular cortex may weaken pedicle screw fixation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, McClure Musculoskeletal Research Center, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Krag
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Van Hal
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Haugh
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Grobler
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001863:Bone Screws; D002102:Cadaver; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*