Spine Surgery and Related Research
Online ISSN : 2432-261X
ISSN-L : 2432-261X
TECHNICAL NOTE
Temporary Monosegmental Fixation Using Multiaxial Percutaneous Pedicle Screws for Surgical Management of Bony Flexion-Distraction Injuries of the Thoracolumbar Spine: A Technical Note
Kazuya KitamuraKentaro FukudaYuichiro TakahashiTakeshi FujiiMasahiro Ozaki
Author information
JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS

2022 Volume 6 Issue 6 Pages 711-716

Details
Abstract

Introduction: The efficacy of minimally invasive surgeries for thoracolumbar flexion-distraction injuries (FDIs) has been reported, but those surgeries were monosegmental fusion surgeries of two adjacent vertebrae with bone grafts or temporary fixations using percutaneous pedicle screws (PPSs) that were at least bisegmental. Our idea was to fuse the fracture itself, not to fuse the fractured vertebra with an adjacent vertebra or to stabilize the fractured vertebra by bridging rostrally/caudally adjacent intact vertebrae, specifically when the displacement is minimal. This study aimed to present the surgical techniques of reduction and temporary monosegmental fixation of neurologically intact thoracolumbar bony FDIs using multiaxial PPSs, which can minimize the surgical invasiveness and preserve all motion segments, as well as report three cases treated with this procedure.

Technical Note: When the fracture extended from the vertebral body to the spinous process at the same level, screws were placed into the fractured vertebra rostrally to the fracture along the rostral endplate, and the caudally adjacent vertebra was instrumented beyond the fracture line. When the fracture extended from the vertebral body to the spinous process of the rostrally adjacent vertebra, screws were placed into the fractured vertebra caudally to the fracture line, and the rostrally adjacent vertebra was instrumented. The kyphotic deformity was reduced through ligamentotaxis by using MPPSs in the rostral vertebra as rigid joysticks to apply direct buttress leverage to the rostral endplate. Intraoperative blood loss was minimal. The correction of kyphotic deformity and its durability were acceptable, and the segmental range of motion of the two affected vertebrae from flexion to extension was maintained after implant removal.

Conclusions: This surgery can act as the least-invasive option for the management of thoracolumbar bony FDIs to allow early ambulation without external bracing and to preserve all the motion segments.

Fullsize Image
Content from these authors
© 2022 The Japanese Society for Spine Surgery and Related Research.

SSRR is an Open Access journal distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Anyone may download, reuse, copy, reprint, or distribute articles published in the journal for not-for-profit purposes if they cite the original authors and source properly. If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you may not distribute the modified material.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Previous article Next article
feedback
Top