Abstract
Fixation to the lumbosacral spine to correct pelvic obliquity in neuromuscular scoliosis has always remained a surgical challenge. The strongest fixation of the lumbosacral junction has been achieved with either a Galveston technique with rods or screws or with iliosacral screws. We have devised a new fixation system, in which iliosacral screws are combined with iliac screws. This is made possible by using the AO Universal Spine System with side opening hooks above and below the iliosacral screws and iliac screws below it. The whole sacropelvis is thus encompassed by a maximum width (MW) fixation, which gives an ‘M’ appearance on the pelvic radiographs and a ‘W’ appearance in the axial plane. We report on our surgical technique and the early results where such a technique was used. We feel that this new means of fixation (by combining the strongest fixation systems) is extremely solid and should be included in the wide armamentarium of sacropelvic fixation.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 31 July 1998 Revised: 26 October 1998 Accepted: 10 November 1998
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Arlet, V., Marchesi, D., Papin, P. et al. The ‘MW’ sacropelvic construct: an enhanced fixation of the lumbosacral junction in neuromuscular pelvic obliquity. E Spine J 8, 229–231 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s005860050163
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s005860050163