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Published in: Acta Neurochirurgica 11/2018

01-11-2018 | Original Article - Spine - Other

A radiological and anatomic examination of intralaminar screws in the thoracic spine—a theoretical feasibility study

Authors: Jonas Müller, Jan-Uwe Müller, Thomas Koppe, Stephan Nowak, Henry W. S. Schroeder, Jörg Baldauf

Published in: Acta Neurochirurgica | Issue 11/2018

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Abstract

Background

Failure of pedicle screws and anatomical variations which prevent pedicle screw implantation make the search for an alternative to pedicle screws in thoracic spine surgery necessary. To date, published data have shown that intralaminar screws could be a possible way of fixation. Object of this study is a systematic examination of the feasibility of lamina screws in the whole thoracic spine.

Methods

Fifty females and 50 males (age 20 to 60 years) who underwent a polytrauma CT from 2010 to 2012 were randomly selected. Patients with injury of the thoracic spine, trauma-independent deformity, or dysplasia of the thoracic spine were excluded. A three-dimensional reconstruction of the thoracic spine was performed from the data set. The anatomical data of the lamina were measured under consideration of the potential trajectory of a laminar screw. The caliber of the corresponding pedicle was measured as well.

Results

The diameters of the lamina show a decline in superior-inferior direction (0.66 cm in T1 to 0.60 cm in T12 in males, 0.62 to 0.56 cm in females). Diameters of pedicle and lamina show no correlation. Twenty percent of the pedicles have a hypoplasia with a diameter of less than 0.5 cm. However, in these vertebrae, 62.3% of the laminae would be suitable for 0.4-cm lamina screws. Only in 2.75% of the vertebral bodies, there was no possibility for intralaminar or pedicle screws.

Conclusions

This study shows that it is possible to use intralaminar screws in the thoracic spine in most of patients.
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Metadata
Title
A radiological and anatomic examination of intralaminar screws in the thoracic spine—a theoretical feasibility study
Authors
Jonas Müller
Jan-Uwe Müller
Thomas Koppe
Stephan Nowak
Henry W. S. Schroeder
Jörg Baldauf
Publication date
01-11-2018
Publisher
Springer Vienna
Published in
Acta Neurochirurgica / Issue 11/2018
Print ISSN: 0001-6268
Electronic ISSN: 0942-0940
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-018-3678-6

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