Easy retrieval of polyaxial tulip-head pedicle screws by "U" rod technique.
The number of fusion surgeries increase each year which also increase the need for implant removal. In some cases, it can be extremely hard to remove a pedicle screw especially when there is a mismatch of the screw and the screwdriver. Also the screwdrivers can be contaminated during the operation, and this will cause a delay till the instruments are re-sterilized. There is a need for the removal of screws without special instruments. We describe a method for removing tulip-head polyaxial pedicle screws without special instruments. The screws are removed using an Allen key, a rod bender and a "U" shaped rod. We successfully removed 76 screws in 11 recent cases without any complications. The "U" rod technique is a simple and useful technique for the removal of tulip-head polyaxial screws.
Kose
Kamil Cagri
KC
Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Osmangazi Mah 105 Sok No 63, Afyonkarahisar, Afyon, Turkey. kacako@hotmail.com
Isik
Cengiz
C
Altinel
Levent
L
Ates
Ali
A
Ozdemir
Mustafa
M
D001863:Bone Screws / Q000592:standards*; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D013131:Spine / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery*; D013525:Surgical Instruments / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends*