title: Mini-open or percutaneous bilateral lumbar transfacet pedicle screw fixation: a technical note.
abstract: METHODS
  Case report.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the technique used to place bilateral lumbar transfacet pedicle screws.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Transfacet pedicle screw fixation is a growing alternative and biomechanically comparable with traditional pedicle screw fixation. There is no clear description of technique steps for placing transfacet pedicle screws available in the literature, despite recognizing that screw placement is not intuitive even with fluoroscopy, and is dissimilar to placing traditional pedicle screws or translaminar facet screws.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present 2 illustrative cases where bilateral transfacet pedicle screws were placed for posterior instrumentation after a step-by-step technique that can be used in a mini-open or percutaenous procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postoperatively, both patients had adequately placed transfacet pedicle screws bilaterally on x-ray imaging with 1 patient demonstrating fusion and intact fixation at 11 months follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transfacet pedicle screws were successfully placed in 2 patients in a stepwise technique described to achieve lumbar fusion.
authors.affiliation: *Institute for Modern & Innovative Surgery (iMIS), Fort Lauderdale †Society of Facet Surgical Techniques and Technologies Inc., LES Society, Wilton Manors, FL.
authors.forename: Kingsley R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seale
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cumming
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000601:surgery; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D059408:Pain Management; D065289:Pedicle Screws; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*