BACKGROUND: Prevention of graft dislodgement in multilevel cervical corpectomy and fusion has been an unresolved problem. Anterior plate fixation has a significant failure rate. External support with a halo-vest is uncomfortable for patients. In the present study, we report a new surgical technique of anterior pedicle screw (APS) fixation for multilevel cervical corpectomy and spinal fusion, and describe the safety and utility of the system. METHOD: After cervical corpectomy, the pedicles on the right side were visualised under oblique fluoroscopy. Guide wires were inserted into the pedicles from the inner wall of the excavated vertebral body until they were hidden in the pedicles. After a fibula autograft was placed, the graft was penetrated in the reverse direction by the guide wires. After drilling and tapping, cannulated screws were inserted into the pedicles through the grafted fibula along the guide wires. FINDINGS: In 9 patients with cervical myelopathy, the surgery was accomplished with a fibula autograft using APS fixation. A total of 22 APSs were inserted, and 21 screws were placed precisely in the pedicles. There were no neurovascular complications. Patients were allowed to ambulate without a halo-vest on the second day after the surgery. Post-operatively, no dislodgement of the grated fibula occurred, and all patients improved neurologically. CONCLUSIONS: The insertion of APSs is feasible and safe. APS fixation enables us to obtain rigid fixation anteriorly, and we propose that APS fixation is an attractive option for multilevel cervical corpectomy and fusion.
BACKGROUND: Prevention of graft dislodgement in multilevel cervical corpectomy and fusion has been an unresolved problem. Anterior plate fixation has a significant failure rate. External support with a halo-vest is uncomfortable for patients. In the present study, we report a new surgical technique of anterior pedicle screw (APS) fixation for multilevel cervical corpectomy and spinal fusion, and describe the safety and utility of the system. METHOD: After cervical corpectomy, the pedicles on the right side were visualised under oblique fluoroscopy. Guide wires were inserted into the pedicles from the inner wall of the excavated vertebral body until they were hidden in the pedicles. After a fibula autograft was placed, the graft was penetrated in the reverse direction by the guide wires. After drilling and tapping, cannulated screws were inserted into the pedicles through the grafted fibula along the guide wires. FINDINGS: In 9 patients with cervical myelopathy, the surgery was accomplished with a fibula autograft using APS fixation. A total of 22 APSs were inserted, and 21 screws were placed precisely in the pedicles. There were no neurovascular complications. Patients were allowed to ambulate without a halo-vest on the second day after the surgery. Post-operatively, no dislodgement of the grated fibula occurred, and all patients improved neurologically. CONCLUSIONS: The insertion of APSs is feasible and safe. APS fixation enables us to obtain rigid fixation anteriorly, and we propose that APS fixation is an attractive option for multilevel cervical corpectomy and fusion.
Authors: Heiko Koller; Rene Schmidt; Michael Mayer; Wolfgang Hitzl; Juliane Zenner; Stefan Midderhoff; Stefan Middendorf; Nicolaus Graf; Nicolaus Gräf; H Resch; Hans-Joachim Wilke; Hans-Joachim Willke Journal: Eur Spine J Date: 2010-06-30 Impact factor: 3.134
Authors: Jan Bredow; Carolin Meyer; Max Joseph Scheyerer; Florian Siedek; Lars Peter Müller; Peer Eysel; Gregor Stein Journal: Eur Spine J Date: 2016-01-25 Impact factor: 3.134
Authors: Heiko Koller; Werner Schmoelz; Juliane Zenner; Alexander Auffarth; Herbert Resch; Wolfgang Hitzl; Davud Malekzadeh; Lukas Ernstbrunner; Martina Blocher; Michael Mayer Journal: Eur Spine J Date: 2015-01-23 Impact factor: 3.134
Authors: Sebastian Hartmann; P Kavakebi; C Wipplinger; A Tschugg; P P Girod; S Lener; C Thomé Journal: Neurosurg Rev Date: 2017-04-17 Impact factor: 3.042
Authors: Heiko Koller; Wolfgang Hitzl; Frank Acosta; Mark Tauber; Juliane Zenner; Herbert Resch; Yasutsugu Yukawa; Oliver Meier; Rene Schmidt; Michael Mayer Journal: Eur Spine J Date: 2009-07-03 Impact factor: 3.134