1996 Volume 45 Issue 1 Pages 113-118
We report 20 cases of unstable spine, who were operated on using a new spinal instrument made of titanium alloy; the SPINE System. There were eleven trauma cases, four tumor cases, and one case each of spondylolytic spondylolisthesis, degenerative spondylolisthesis, spondylolysis, lumber disc degeneration and disc herniation. In eighteen cases, a transpedicular system was used. In one case with chordoma of the axis, cervical posterior fusion implant was applied, and the hook rod for spondylolysis was used in one case. The follow-up period ranged from five months to eighteen months, with a mean of eleven months. The kyphotic change increased above 5 degrees in two cases out of eleven trauma cases. In three cases out of eighteen cases, transpedicular screws were found to be broken during follow-up. MRI investigation was carried out in eight cases after surgery. MRI revealed acceptable images. This type of instrumentation has some advantages and may be recommended in the treatment of unstable spine.
