title: First clinical experiences with a new cervical fixation device - technical report.
abstract: In a first clinical series of ten patients the new cervical fixation device StarLock trade mark (Synthes, Umkirch, Germany) was implanted.[nl]Characteristics of the device are deep threaded screws with higher pullout resistance and a high angular tolerance while inserting the rods thus simplifying the implantation.[nl]62 lateral mass screws in ten patients were inserted. In 2 cases placement of screws was insufficient (3.2 %) because of surgical difficulties not attributable to the system technique.[nl]In all other cases a radiologically proven stabilization was created. [nl]Due to the high angular tolerance of the screw clamps bending of rods is simplified, especially in cases of longer constructs, and shortens the operation time.[nl]The design of the StarLock trade mark system allows an easy application of computer-navigated placing of transpedicular screws.[nl]This new cervical fixation device is easy to handle and simplifies rod application especially in longer constructs.
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgical Department, University of Ulm/Günzburg, Germany. wolfgang.boerm@medizin.uni-ulm.de
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Börm
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: König
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hübner
authors.forename: H-P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Richter
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001863:Bone Screws; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators / Q000009:adverse effects; D007796:Laminectomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome