Skip to main content

Posterior Pedicle Screw Fixation

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Spine Trauma

Abstract

Pedicle screw fixation has already been proved to provide the strongest stability for reconstruction of the unstable cervical spine in several biomechanical studies. However, it has generally been considered too risky at C3–6 levels due to its potential for injury to the surrounding neurovascular structures such as the vertebral arteries, the spinal cord, or the nerve roots. Anatomically, the cervical pedicle diameter is smaller than that of the thoracolumbar pedicles, and the pedicle axis is largely inclined in the transverse plane. Therefore, accurate identification of the pedicle screw entry point matched with trajectory angle is required for successful placement of the pedicle screws. This chapter introduces cervical pedicle screw fixation in the treatment of cervical spine injuries and describes its indications, procedural steps, imaging technique, technical pitfalls, and postoperative course in detail.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Abumi K, Itoh H, Taneichi H, Kaneda K (1994) Transpedicular screw fixation for traumatic lesions of the middle and lower cervical spine: description of the techniques and preliminary report. J Spinal Disord 7(1):19–28

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Abumi K, Shono Y, Ito M, Taneichi H, Kotani Y, Kaneda K (2000) Complications of pedicle screw fixation in reconstructive surgery of the cervical spine. Spine 25(8):962–9

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Allen BL Jr, Ferguson RL, Lehmann TR, O’Brien RP (1982) A mechanistic classification of closed, indirect fractures and dislocations of the lower cervical spine. Spine 7(1):1–27

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Assaker R, Reyns N, Vinchon M, Demondion X, Louis E (2001) Transpedicular screw placement: image-guided versus lateral-view fluoroscopy: in vitro simulation. Spine 26(19):2160–4

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Jones EL, Heller JG, Silcox DH, Hutton WC (1997) Cervical pedicle screws versus lateral mass screws. Anatomic feasibility and biomechanical comparison. Spine 22(9):977–82

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Karaikovic EE, Daubs MD, Madsen RW, Gaines RW Jr (1997) Morphologic characteristics of human cervical pedicles. Spine 22(5):493–500

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Karaikovic EE, Kunakornsawat S, Daubs MD, Madsen TW, Gaines RW Jr (2000) Surgical anatomy of the cervical pedicles: landmarks for posterior cervical pedicle entrance localization. J Spinal Disord 13(1):63–72

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Kostuik JP (1988) Anterior fixation for burst fractures of the thoracic and lumbar spine with or without neurological involvement. Spine 13(3):286–93

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Kotani Y, Abumi K, Ito M, Minami A (2003) Improved accuracy of computer-assisted cervical pedicle screw insertion. J Neurosurg Spine 99(3):257–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Kotani Y, Cunningham BW, Abumi K, McAfee PC (1994) Biomechanical analysis of cervical stabilization systems. An assessment of transpedicular screw fixation in the cervical spine. Spine 19(22):2529–39

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Kothe R, Ruther W, Schneider E, Linke B (2004) Biomechanical analysis of transpedicular screw fixation in the subaxial cervical spine. Spine 29(17):1869–75

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Ludwig SC, Kramer DL, Vaccaro AR, Albert TJ (1999) Transpedicle screw fixation of the cervical spine. Clin Orthop Relat Res 359:77–88 (review)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Miller RM, Ebraheim NA, Xu R, Yeasting RA (1996) Anatomic consideration of transpedicular screw placement in the cervical spine. An analysis of two approaches. Spine 21(20):2317–22

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Panjabi MM, Shin EK, Chen NC, Wang JL (2000) Internal morphology of human cervical pedicles. Spine 25(10):1197–205

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Schwartz DM (2003) Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring during post-traumatic spine surgery. In: Vaccaro AR (ed) Fractures of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine. Marcel Dekker, New York, pp 373–383

    Google Scholar 

  16. Yukawa Y, Kato F, Yoshihara H, Yanase M, Ito K (2006) Cervical pedicle screw fixation for 100 cases of unstable cervical injuries using pedicle axis views by fluoroscopy. J Neurosurg Spine 5(6):488–93

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Y. Yukawa .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Yukawa, Y. (2010). Posterior Pedicle Screw Fixation. In: Patel, V., Burger, E., Brown, C. (eds) Spine Trauma. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-03694-1_17

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-03694-1_17

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-03693-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-03694-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics