An imaging anatomical study on percutaneous kyphoplasty for lumbar via a unilateral transverse process-pedicle approach.
METHODS
An imaging anatomical measurement.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the anatomical feasibility of percutaneous kyphoplasty for lumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures via a unilateral transverse process-pedicle approach (TPA).


BACKGROUND
Kyphoplasty via a unilateral approach has been reported and good clinical results have been achieved. However, because of the lack of an anatomical study, these approaches have yet to be popularized.


METHODS
A total of 150 lumbar vertebral bodies of 30 patients were simulated kyphoplasty on the computed tomographic scans through conventional transpedicle approach (CTA) and the TPA, respectively. Anatomical parameters including the distance between the entry point and the midline of the vertebral body, the puncture inclination angle, and the success rate of puncture were measured and compared.


RESULTS
The distance between the entry point and the midline from L1 to L5 lumbar levels varied from 20.6 ± 2.2 mm to 28.6 ± 2.9 mm in the CTA group and from 23.6 ± 2.2 mm to 33.6 ± 2.9 mm in the TPA group. The entry point from L1 to L5 in the TPA group was 3.0 ± 2.1 mm to 5.1 ± 2.7 mm more lateral than that in the CTA group. The medial inclination angles from L1 to L5 were 30.2° ± 6.4° to 47.7° ± 5.4° in the TPA and 15.3° ± 6.0° to 22.8° ± 8.7° in the CTA group. The inclination angles in the TPA group were greater than that in the CTA group and the safe range of the puncture angles was also wider. The success rate was 51.7% in the CTA group and 87.7% in the TPA group.


CONCLUSIONS
The entry point through a TPA was localized at the midline of the transverse process, 3.0 to 5.1 mm outside the lateral margin of the pedicle projection. Compared with CTA, the puncture inclination angle in the TPA approach was much larger with a wider safe puncture range. The TPA approach allowed an easy puncture to meet or surpass the midline of the lumbar vertebral body.


METHODS
N/A.
From the Department of Spine Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital of Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou Sichuan, P.R. China.
Song
S
Wang
Qing
Q
Wang
Jianping
J
Kang
Peng
P
Xiu
Gaoju
G
Wang
D000368:Aged; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D050815:Fractures, Compression / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D058498:Kyphoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*