[A new possibility for determining the size and position of the tricortical bone graft in ventral spine stabilisation].
OBJECTIVE
Ventral stabilisation of thoracolumbar fractures is often done with autogenous iliac crest grafts as an alternative to other filling and stabilisation systems. Today the golden standard for this kind of reconstruction is the minimally invasive thoracoscopic stabilization. Often there was a problem with the determination of the size and the position of the graft, especially on video-assisted minimally invasive stabilisation. The aim of this study was now to develop a new instrument that would be able to minimise this kind of intraoperative problems.


METHODS
For measuring and for checking the exact position of the bone graft the vertebrometer as a new measuring apparatus was developed. With the simple and good handling of the vertebrometer, there is an easy possibility of determine the size and the position of the graft. As this tool is made of metal, it is possible to localise and to check the positioning and the right size of the necessary bone graft during the intraoperative radiological control.


CONCLUSIONS
This tool may help to improve the prognosis of osseous integration of the implanted material and lower the rate of pseudarthrosis. Furthermore, the handling of the thoracoscopic ventral stabilisation may be somewhat easier and, even for the inexperienced surgeon, there is now an instrument available to fit in the graft with a satisfactory result.
Schmidt
A
A
Klinik für Unfall-, Hand- und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, HELIOS Klinikum Berlin-Buch. adschmidt@berlin.helios-kliniken.de
Kühling
J
J
Langen
H-P
HP
Schmidt
I
I
Schmidt
J
J
D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation*; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed