Neurology India Medknow Publications on behalf of the Neurological Society of India ISSN: 0028-3886 EISSN: 1998-4022 Vol. 53, Num. 4, 2005, pp. 458-465

Neurology India, Vol. 53, No. 4, October-December, 2005, pp. 458-465

Review Article

Posterior thoracic segmental pedicle screw instrumentation: Evolving methods of safe and effective placement

Zeiller SC, Lee J, Lim M, Vaccaro AR

Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Correspondence Address: S. C. Zeiller, 834 Chestnut Street Apt#1612, Philadelphia, 19107, USA. E-mail: zeiller@comcast.net

Code Number: ni05151

Abstract

Keywords: Computerized tomography; safety; spinal fixation; thoracic pedicle screw

The techniques of pedicle screw placement in the spine has evolved considerably over the last two decades. Pedicle screw instrumentation was initially popularized in the lumbar spine. Through detailed cadaveric studies and clinical experience surgeons have become familiar with the complex three-dimensional (3D) anatomy involved in safely placing lumbar pedicle screws. Pedicle screw anchorage of the ′force nucleus′ or pedicle, allows improved deformity correction and rigid stability when compared to hook and rod fixation due to the three-column control pedicle screw fixation affords.[1],[2] As surgeons became more comfortable with lumbar pedicle screw instrumentation, a slow progression of their use in the thoracolumbar region and more cephalad has ensued over the last five to 7 years.

Pedicle screw placement in the thoracic and thoracolumbar spine has many advantages. The use of pedicle screws obviates the need for placement of any instrumentation within the spinal canal. This is particularly important when docking a rod to the screws, which, in the case of rod-hook anchorage, may inadvertently advance a supralaminar or sublaminar hook into the spinal canal. Pedicle screw anchorage is independent of facet and laminar integrity and is extremely useful in cases of trauma or a previous posterior decompression. Finally, the increased biomechanical strength of pedicle screw fixation allows, in most clinical situations, fewer segmental levels to be incorporated into the fusion.

The advantages of pedicle screw instrumentation in the thoracic spine have been tempered by the concern for the safety and accuracy associated with their placement. The close proximity of the spinal cord and major soft tissue structures including the aorta, esophagus, and lung, makes suboptimal placement a concern, especially on the left side of the spine due to the posterior lateral position of the aorta.[3] In addition, cannulating the narrow and inconsistent shape of the thoracic pedicles especially in deformity has proven to be technically challenging. Since the safety and efficacy of thoracic pedicle screws is dependent on their proper placement within the spine, several techniques have evolved to ensure that this occurs. The objective of this paper is to review current as well as evolving techniques and principles associated with the safe and efficacious placement of thoracic and thoracolumbar pedicle screws.

Preoperative radiologic workup

The preoperative radiographic workup is the critical first step in preparing for placement of thoracic and thoracolumbar pedicle screws. AP and lateral plain radiographs illustrate global thoracic spinal alignment and a rough estimation of pedicle size (AP view) and unusual anatomic variants. Preferably these films are taken on a 36 in. cassette. This enables the surgeon to evaluate overall spinal coronal and sagittal alignment. Plain radiographs also become a useful template to record the proposed operative approach with a radiographic crayon along with any notes on unique patient characteristics, such as anatomic variants, as these imaging studies routinely accompany the patient into the operating theatre.

Advanced imaging modalities such as CT and MRI provide valuable information on pedicle morphometry and neural anatomy. Interestingly, as surgeons have become more comfortable with thoracic pedicle screw fixation, advanced imaging studies are being used less frequently in the presurgical planning stages when imaging of the neural elements is not necessary. For surgeons less familiar with thoracic pedicle screw insertion, transaxial CT imaging will demonstrate pedicle size, trajectory, and the proximity of the aorta to the lateral pedicle boundary. Advanced imaging may also assist in pedicle screw diameter and length selection, as well as anticipated screw insertion trajectory [Figure - 1] . In traumatic or pathologic disorders such as infection or tumor, advanced imaging studies may assist in vertebral level instrumentation selection and assist in determining which pedicles should be excluded due to pathologic compromise.

The most important contribution of advanced imaging technology in regards to thoracic pedicle fixation is identifying the location of the aorta in relationship to the thoracic pedicle and pedicle screw starting point. Typically the thoracic aorta is located in the left hemithorax anterolaterally with respect to the vertebral body. However, the position of the aorta is markedly different in patients with idiopathic scoliosis presenting with a primary right-thoracic curve compared to a patient without spinal deformity [Figure - 2]. Sucato and Duchene evaluated 36 patients with idiopathic scoliosis and a right thoracic curve and compared the position of the aorta to 43 patients without a spinal deformity.[4] The position of the aorta in patients with a primary right thoracic curve was posterior and lateral compared to their nonscoliotic counterparts . The awareness of this position becomes critical when placing thoracic pedicle screws along the concavity of the spinal curve in a patient with a right-sided thoracic curve.

Surgical exposure

The patient is placed prone on a radiolucent four-poster frame or Jackson table to facilitate intraoperative imaging, maintain adequate sagittal alignment and minimize any pressure to the anterior thorax or abdomen. During soft tissue exposure, the patient can be pharmacologically paralyzed to facilitate soft tissue dissection and release, thus minimizing blood loss. Paralysis is then reversed during pedicle screw preparation in order not to interfere with electrophysiologic monitoring (motor-evoked potentials, EMG). The soft tissue dissection should be carried out to the tips of the transverse processes and should include defining clearly the lateral border of the pars interarticularis. It is imperative to clear all soft tissue from the bony anatomy so that the anatomic landmarks can be clearly defined and a solid arthrodesis can be achieved following decortication. Once the bony landmarks are clearly defined, pedicle screw preparation may begin.

Free-hand technique

The free-hand technique for placement of thoracic and thoracolumbar pedicle screws relies completely on using visible as well as palpable anatomic landmarks for accurate pedicle screw placement. This technique has been popularized by Lenke et al[5] following their vast experience with thoracic and thoracolumbar pedicle screw placement. It is dependent on clearly defining the posterior element bony landmarks including the lateral border of the pars interarticularis, the entire transverse process and cephalad facet joint. A recommended pedicle screw starting point has been suggested for all levels between T1 and T12. Beginning distally in the thoracic spine at T10-T12 the starting point is located at the junction of a vertical line along the lateral pars boundary and a transverse line dividing the transverse process in half. As you move proximally toward the midthoracic spine, the starting point begins to move medially. At T7-T9 the starting point is the most medial located along a vertical line just lateral to the midpoint of the superior articular process at a transverse location along the superior border of the transverse process [Figure - 3]. More proximally, the screw starting point again moves more laterally. At T1-T2 the starting point is located at the intersection of a vertical line along the lateral border of the pars interarticularis and a transverse line bisecting the transverse process.

Once the starting point has been established, a very clear and methodical series of steps has been described by Lenke et al.[5] A high-speed burr is used to penetrate the outer cortex over the pedicle entry point. Next, either a curved Lenke gearshift or a straight curette (3-0 cervical) is used to probe or mature the intended screw path within the pedicle. When using the curved Lenke gearshift, the curved tip should be facing the surgeon during the initial 20 mm of the pedicle path to minimize the potential for canal penetrance. Once the neurocentral junction of the pedicle is reached (typically at a depth of 20 mm) the gearshift is removed and reinserted with the curved tip facing away from the surgeon. Positioning the pedicle probe tip medially assists in guiding the probe medially within the vertebral body. Next, the pedicle tract is palpated with a ball-tipped probe to verify the presence of a bony floor and an intact four-wall boundary. If a violation of bony integrity is noted at this point, redirecting the gearshift may be necessary in order to assure safe screw placement. The pedicle path is then tapped (preferably undertapped by 0.5-1.0 mm compared to the diameter of the selected screw) and the tract is repalpated with the ball-tipped probe to detect for any bony breaches. The pedicle screw is now inserted. Following screw insertion, intraoperative imaging is then performed to verify acceptable screw positioning. Triggered EMG testing may be used to evaluate for proper lower thoracic screw placement (T8-T12), while motor-evoked potential (MEP) monitoring assists in monitoring spinal cord function for all thoracic levels instrumented. Once all screws are placed and the applicable screws have been tested via triggered EMG the rod can be docked to complete the construct [Figure - 4] .

Penfield outside-in technique (Vaccaro)

The senior author (A.R.V.) finds it useful to burr level the lateral border of prominent thoracic transverse processes to allow ease of screw insertion. A dorsally protruding transverse process has a tendency to push the surgeons hand medially during pedicle screw hole preparation and also interferes with screw seating by early contact with the lateral screw tulip head. This also allows for a more lateral screw entry point for surgeons who prefer greater medial screw trajectory angulation to ensure vertebral body penetrance [Figure - 5].

Burring the transverse process flush with the proposed pedicle screw starting point offers one more advantage. A Penfield #4 can now easily palpate the lateral border of the superior articular process at its junction with the transverse process. This represents approximately the lateral border of the respective thoracic pedicle. The technique of palpating the pedicle from the ′outside-in′ then allows the surgeon to gently, depending on the thoracic level, angle the pedicle probe medially during cannulation.

Intraoperative imaging

Intraoperative imaging techniques are useful in assisting safe screw path navigation. The most common imaging tools at this time are plain radiographs and multiplanar fluoroscopy. Advanced imaging modalities such as 3D fluoroscopy and CT-based computer assisted navigational systems are currently being investigated.

Multiplanar fluoroscopy allows for real time assessment of screw placement with the unfortunate price of potential radiation exposure to the patient and surgeon and the inconvenience of the C-arm component within the surgical field. Bony anatomy can be easily defined in slender patients depending on the quality of the fluoroscopy machine. Accurate screw guidance is dependant on appropriate positioning of the C-arm in relationship to the instrumented vertebral level. The image beam trajectory in the sagittal plane should be parallel to the superior vertebra end plate. In the transverse plane the image trajectory should be collinear to the pedicle insertion angle with the vertebral body. The spinous processes should be centered between the vertebral body boundaries to reduce any parallax effect. Once this image is obtained, a pilot hole may be made and assessed with AP fluoroscopy. Lateral images can then be obtained to assess screw path trajectory and depth.

There are several limitations with the use of fluoroscopy during thoracic pedicle screw placement. The quality of the images is in part dependent on the quality of the machine as well as the experience of the technologist operating the fluoroscope. An inexperienced technologist can add significant time and radiation exposure during the operative procedure. The ribs and mediastinal soft tissue may also obscure the bony anatomy in the thoracic spine during fluoroscopy. Additionally, experience is needed to understand the spatial 2D imaging presentation of the thoracic pedicles in cases of significant spinal deformity.

Carbone et al[6] evaluated a fluoroscopically assisted technique of thoracic and thoracolumbar pedicle screw placement. Forty-one patients treated for traumatic spine injuries who underwent CT evaluation of thoracic screw placement were evaluated in a retrospective fashion. Of the 126 screws evaluated, 12.7% had penetrated the pedicle cortex with the lateral cortex being the most commonly violated (10.3% of all screws placed). No neurologic or visceral injuries were reported. Kuntz et al[7] performed a prospective study evaluating the accuracy of fluoroscopically assisted pedicle screw placement. Twenty-nine patients were treated for a variety of conditions. One hundred and ninety-nine screws were reviewed with postoperative CT, 27.6% of screws were well placed within the pedicle wall boundaries. Lateral wall penetration occurred in 57.3% of screws with medial wall penetration seen in 13.6% of screws placed. No postoperative neurologic or visceral injuries were reported. There were, however, a total of six high-risk screws (five were in one patient). A high-risk screw was defined as medial pedicle wall penetration of greater than 2 mm ( n =3) or anterolateral body penetration of greater than 3 mm.

Recently 3D fluoroscopy has received attention in evaluating placement of thoracic pedicle screws. Wang et al[8] evaluated horacic pedicle screw placement in a cadaveric model using the Iso-C 3D (Siemens Medical Solutions, Erlangen, Germany) fluoroscopy unit and conventional CT. Overall sensitivity and specificity was 71 and 78%, respectively in detecting pedicle wall violation with the Iso-C 3D unit and 61 and 93%, respectively using conventional CT.

Computer assisted image guided spinal surgery traditionally uses preacquired CT images downloaded onto a computer within the operating room. Defined bony landmarks are then registered intraoperatively and are visualized on the computer monitor in a multiplanar fashion. Kim et al[9] evaluated this technique in a thoracic cadaveric model. Overall pedicle wall violation was 19.2% with major violations comprising 7.5% and minor violations comprising 11.7%.

Intraoperative neuromonitoring

Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) has become an integral part of complex spine surgery. The primary objective of IONM is to provide the surgeon with early warning of a potential neurological event. IONM, in the form of somatosensory-evoked potentials (SSEP′s), initially gained popularity with deformity surgeons who routinely relied on the Stagnara wake up test to monitor neurologic integrity. Monitoring techniques have become much more sophisticated since their inception affording a higher level of protection to the patient. At present, many centers employ SSEP′s, motor-evoked potentials (MEP′s), and spontaneous and triggered EMG responses during complex thoracic pedicle screw instrumentation procedures.

The ideal IONM strategy would include the use of SSEP′s and MEP′s to monitor entire spinal cord function throughout a thoracic spinal surgery procedure. Spontaneous and triggered EMG can be used reliably in select myotomes (rectus abdominis, T8-T12) to assess the nerve roots irritability during screw hole preparation and screw placement. If MEP′s are not available, SSEP′s and spontaneous EMG have been used effectively as a monitoring strategy. Gunnarsson et al[10] reported a prospective consecutive series of two hundred thoracolumbar instrumentation cases using this form of monitoring. Fourteen patients (6.6%) awoke with new postoperative neural deficits. All of these patients had significant electomyographic activity during the procedure, however only four had significant SSEP changes. Intraoperative EMG had a 100% sensitivity and 23% specificity in detecting neural injury, whereas SSEP′s had 28.6% sensitivity and 94.7% specificity. The authors concluded that the combination of these two monitoring modalities is a useful IONM strategy.

Triggered or stimulated EMG has been studied extensively in the lumbar spine to determine accurate pedicle screw placement. Lenke et al [11]determined in a porcine model and later in a human clinical series, that a threshold stimulus of greater than 8 mA indicated complete intraosseous screw placement. Values of less than 4 mA were indicative of a pedicle wall defect. Lewis et al[12] evaluated triggered EMG monitoring of the intercostal muscles for accuracy of thoracic pedicle screw placement in a porcine model. A definitive threshold cutoff was not able to be determined that consistently differentiated intraosseous from epidural screw placement .

A study by Reidy et al [13]evaluated intercostal-triggered EMG in seventeen adult patients to determine accuracy of thoracic pedicle screw placement. The patients underwent postoperative CT to verify screw position. Using a cutoff value of 7 mA, the sensitivity of intercostal-triggered EMG was 50% with a specificity of 83% . The overall accuracy of the surgeon using landmarks and intraoperative imaging was 79%. It was concluded by the authors that triggered EMG would not have improved the surgeons′ accuracy of screw placement.[13]

Discussion

Thoracic and thoracolumbar pedicle anatomy at times may be variable depending on the presence of anatomic variants or spinal deformity making thoracic pedicle screw placement at times technically demanding. The close proximity of the spinal cord/nerve roots and major soft tissue structures (esophagus, aorta, lung, and viscera) necessitates accurate placement of these screws to avoid potential complications. The improved biomechanical strength, usefulness in conditions where conventional hook anchorage is impossible (posterior element insufficiency), and the ability to minimize fusion levels due to predictable three-column control of the spine has popularized the use of thoracic and thoracolumbar pedicle screws over the last decade.

The question then arises: Are the advantages worth the risks associated with pedicle screw placement? Kim et al[5] reported on the 10 years experience of Lenke and Bridwell placing pedicle screws in the thoracic spine. A total of 3204 screws were placed during this time period. Preoperative diagnoses included predominantly scoliotic and kyphotic deformities. All screws were placed using the free-hand technique. CT was utilized to randomly evaluate a total of 577 screws. In reviewing their data, 93.8% of thoracic pedicle screws were placed accurately within the bony confines of the pedicle with only 6.2% of screws demonstrating cortical perforation (1.7% through the medial wall) . No neurologic, vascular or visceral injuries were reported as a consequence of screw placement. The free-hand technique is the most technically demanding technique currently employed. A thorough understanding of the bony anatomy and experience palpating the pedicle tract are necessary for accurate screw placement.[14]

A number of surgical instruments have been implemented to successfully cannulate thoracic pedicles. The two most common instruments include a gearshift device or a cervical curette. Grauer et al.[15] reported on the use of a novel pedicle probe the Safepath (Mekanika, Boca Raton, FL, USA). The Safepath is a nonaggressive blunt tipped drill, which is placed into the pedicle under power assistance preferentially traveling down the cancellous bone due to decreased resistance. The Safepath was initially intended for use in the lumbar spine. The Safepath device was compared to either a gearshift or cervical curette in thoracic and lumbar pedicles using a cadaveric model. The pedicles were then evaluated using plain radiography, CT, and direct inspection to detect bony violations. Upon direct inspection in the gearshift/cervical curette group 9% of the pedicles were violated in the lumbosacral spine and 33% of the pedicles in the thoracic spine were violated. On direct inspection of the Safepath group there were no pedicle violations in the lumbosacral group, however, 76% of the thoracic pedicles were violated. The authors concluded the Safepath was efficacious in the lumbar spine but was significantly worse than traditional methods in the thoracic spine.

Issues have been raised regarding the safety of thoracic pedicle screw placement in the setting of significant spinal deformity, especially in the pediatric population. Suk et al.[16] evaluated the placement of 4604 thoracic pedicle screws to correct spinal deformity. Suspicious screws on postoperative radiographs were evaluated with CT. Sixty-seven (1.5%) malpositioned screws were noted. There was one case of a transient paraparesis due to medial screw perforation. The screw was removed and the patient made a complete recovery 3 weeks later. The deformity correction obtained in the idiopathic scoliosis group averaged 66.3% at final followup.

Kuklo et al.[17] reported on the safety and efficacy of thoracic pedicle screws in patients with coronal deformities greater than 90°. Twenty patients that met this criteria had a total of 352 thoracic pedicle screws placed and were followed for an average of approximately 3 years. Intrapedicular screw placement or a breach of less than two millimeters was reported in 96.3% of screws determined by postoperative CT imaging. There were three screws that had a breach of greater than four millimeters and the two medial screws were subsequently removed. There were no visceral or neurologic injuries reported due to screw placement. The authors concluded that even in large magnitude curves that thoracic pedicle screws can be placed effectively.

The placement of thoracic pedicle screws in the pediatric population for idiopathic scoliosis imposes unique challenges. The pedicles on the concavity of the deformity, typically on the left, tend to be smaller and more sclerotic. In addition, the spinal cord is closer in proximity to the pedicles on the concave side of the curve due to the rotational deformity. A thorough understanding of the 3D bony anatomy is critical to ensure accurate thoracic screw placement, especially when instrumenting the left side of the thoracic spine due to the close proximity of the aorta to the screw path.

Intraoperative imaging can assist a surgeon in the placement of thoracic pedicle screws. With the use of intraoperative imaging, pedicle wall breaches have been reported to range between 3.7 and 38.9%.[9], [18],[19],[20],[21] Using bony landmarks alone, pedicle wall breaches have been reported in the range of 15.9-54.7%.[2],[3],[18],[22] Plain radiography is available in all operating theatres during spinal instrumentation procedures, however it only provides a static image of an intraoperative event and repeat films following each step in an instrumentation procedure is extremely time consuming. Odgers et al.[20] studied the accuracy of intraoperative lateral plain radiographs when placing thoracolumbar pedicle screws. Screws were evaluated postoperatively with CT and found to be within the pedicle boundaries in 89.1% of screws placed.

Multiplanar fluoroscopy is the most commonly used real time imaging technique employed by surgeons to assist in the placement of thoracic pedicle screws. Most hospitals have recent generation fluoroscopes, which provide detailed bony anatomy. Advantages of traditional C-arm technologies include easy intraoperative maneuverability, ability to image in multiple planes, and the familiarity of most surgeons with this imaging technology. Additionally, the length and trajectory of the screw can be appropriately guided with this method of imaging. Screw trajectory is especially important in terms of spinal biomechanics as demonstrated by Lehman et al.[23] In their study, the straight on screw trajectory path provided a higher pull-out strength compared to following the anatomic trajectory of the native pedicle. Potential issues with increased infection rates while using C-arm have not been borne out in the literature, however, real concerns exist regarding potential excessive radiation exposure to both the surgical staff and patient during screw placement.[6]

The surgeon and the supporting operating room staff can take protective measures to minimize their exposure to the ionizing radiation associated with fluoroscopy, however what is the exposure to the unprotected patient? Perisinakis et al.[24] studied the estimated radiation dose a patient receives during the placement of fluoroscopically guided pedicle screws (T11-L5). The average fluoroscopy time was 1.2 min in the AP plane and 2.1 min in the lateral plane. The average gonadal dose in female patients was 0.67 m Gy and for male patients 0.12 m Gy. The average radiogenic risk for fatal cancer and genetic defects was 115 and 4 per million patients treated for women and men, respectively . The use of fluoroscopy in the lateral plane is associated with higher levels of radiation exposure due to the greater soft tissue penetration required to obtain images. In addition, patients with a larger body habitus will require higher energy levels to achieve adequate visualization of the bony anatomy thus resulting in higher levels of radiation exposure.

The use of fluoroscopy and exposure to ionizing radiation is also a major concern to the spine surgeon. As previously mentioned surgeons can protect themselves with eyewear, thyroid shields, and lead aprons. As a result the surgeon′s hands are at the highest risk of radiation exposure. Rampersaud et al.[25] evaluated the amount of radiation exposure to the surgeon′s neck, torso, and dominant hand during placement of pedicle screws from T11-S1 using lateral fluoroscopy only in a cadaveric model. Average fluoroscopy exposure time was 9.3 s per screw. The average hand dose rate was 58.2 mrem/min. The internationally recommended maximum limit for annual hand radiation exposure is 50,000 mrem .[26],[27] A significant increase in hand dose rate was noted when placement of the screw was on the same side of the beam source as well as when a heavier cadaver was imaged. The authors noted that the use of radiation attenuation gloves reduced the hand dose rate by 33%. When the authors compared their data to other studies spine surgeons had a 10-12-fold increase in hand radiation exposure compared with other musculoskeletal extremity procedures. There are several reasons for this finding. First, there are typically multiple levels that will be instrumented during the spinal procedure, which in itself lends to more exposure. Second, the bilaterality of spinal procedures requires the surgeon to stand on the side that has the beam source, which results in a larger exposure as demonstrated in this study. Finally, the thickness of the soft tissues in the thoracic and thoracolumbar spines require higher energy levels to achieve visualization of the bony anatomy which results in higher radiation exposure.

Advanced imaging techniques, including 3D fluoroscopy and CT-based computer navigational systems, have not been readily incorporated into current spine practices mainly because of cost issues. 3D fluoroscopy requires acquisition times on the order of minutes to evaluate instrumented levels. With regard to CT-base computer navigational systems, data registration has been an issue. Registration errors on the order of millimeters can have significant impact when cannulating the narrow thoracic pedicles when the average pedicle diameter is 4.5 mm at T4.[28] These techniques will require further evaluation to assess their role in facilitating the accuracy of placing thoracic pedicle screws.

The critical evaluation of postoperative plain films is mandatory. Screws should be evaluated for length, position in relation to the pedicle, and their relationship to surrounding screws. Any screw that appears to cross the midline on the AP film should raise concern for a medial pedicle wall perforation and should be further evaluated by CT. Furthermore, any suspicious screw noted on postoperative plain films warrants examination by CT to confirm placement [Figure - 6]. Screws with lateral (most common) or medial penetration and without a neurologic deficit most likely do not need screw placement revision provided they have adequate bony purchase. Screw redirection should be considered for screws that penetrate the anterior vertebral body due to the close proximity to the aorta, lung, and intrathoracic viscera. Fortunately, aortic injury is extremely rare with a paucity of cases being reported in the literature .[29],[30] Caution must be exerted with interpretation of postoperative CT. Accuracy of CT in assessing thoracic pedicle screw malposition has been studied in a cadaveric model by Fayyazi[31] et al. CT, when compared to open inspection, had a sensitivity of 71%, specificity of 75% and accuracy of 76%. The authors concluded that in the face of a new neurologic deficit, or great vessel or lung injury, CT may not be sufficient to assess safe screw position and surgical exploration may be warranted . Rao et al.[32] performed a study to validate the use of CT as a means of assessing the accuracy of thoracic pedicle screw placement. One hundred and fifty-five pedicles were instrumented in a cadaveric model. The screws were evaluated with CT and by direct visualization. A kappa value of 0.51 was determined which depicted a moderate level of agreement between the two measurement techniques. CT was found to have a sensitivity of 86% and specificity of 85% for detecting accuracy of screw placement. Most importantly the authors found a negative predictive value of 62%. The authors concluded that CT is useful in assessing screw placement, however, it tends to overestimate screw misplacement.

The placement of thoracic pedicle screws offers many biomechanical advantages over conventional hook and rod constructs including increased pull-out strength and maintenance of deformity correction. The literature supports that this type of instrumentation can be placed safely in a variety of clinical conditions with minimal reports of serious neurologic or visceral injuries. The additional risk of radiation exposure to the patient and the surgeon are acceptable when fluoroscopy is used appropriately. Surgeons should use only pulse shots of fluoroscopy to minimize the overall radiation exposure to the patient and themselves. The surgeon should keep their hand out of the beam trajectory by initially cannulating the pedicle to a minimal depth then leaving the gearshift or curette in the bone and removing their hand from the field while imaging. Finally, the surgeon must be aware of their fluoro use during the case and use it only as necessary.

Surgeons that either lack experience or the appropriate technology should be hesitant to embark on placement of this type of instrumentation. Surgeons should only proceed with thoracic pedicle screws once they have mastered the placement of lumbar pedicle screws. In countries lacking in sophisticated operating theatre technology it may not be technically feasible to perform these procedures. A fluoroscopy machine that can provide adequate AP and lateral images is all that is needed from a radiology standpoint for placement of thoracic pedicle screws. Surgeons while introducing this technique into their practice can confirm their intraoperative knowledge of the spinal anatomy with the fluoroscopic images. As surgeons becomes more comfortable they can define the starting points from the bony anatomy alone using AP fluoroscopy sparingly and relying on lateral fluoroscopy for guiding screw trajectory. Certainly, the type of cases in which the surgeon chooses to place thoracic pedicle screw instrumentation affects the complexity of the procedure. Initially, trauma and tumor cases maybe less challenging because of the lower likelihood of significant coronal imbalance.

Conclusion

References

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