Quantitative Anatomic Evaluation of Cervical Lateral Mass Fixation With a Comparison of the Roy-Camille and the Magerl Screw Techniques (original) (raw)
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International Journal of Spine Surgery, 2016
Background Lateral mass screw fixation is the treatment of choice for posterior cervical stabilization. Long or misdirected screws carry a risk of injury to spinal nerve roots or vertebral artery. This study was aimed to assess the gross anatomic and CT measurements of typical cervical vertebrae for the selection of lateral mass screws. Methods Dimensions of the articular pillars were measured on 1) Dry cervical vertebrae with Vernier calipers and 2) Multiplanar reformations of CT scans of the same vertebrae with Viewer software package. The data was statistically evaluated. Results The transverse diameter of the articular pillars with Vernier calipers varied from 6.0 to 15.4 mm (mean=10.5 mm ± 1.5) and on CT scans ranged from 8.2-16.1 mm (mean=11.6 mm ± 1.4). The antero-posterior diameter, an estimate of the screw length by Roy-Camille technique varied from 3.9 to 12.7 mm (mean=8.6 mm ± 1.6) by Vernier calipers and from 6.4 to 13.3 mm (mean=9.1 ± 1.2) on CT scans. The oblique AP diameter, an estimate of screw length by Magerl method varied from 10.8 to 20.3 mm (mean=14.9 mm ± 1.8) by Vernier calipers and from 11.4 to 19.3 mm (mean=14.5 mm ± 1.7) on CT. The CT measurements for height, transverse and AP diameter of the articular pillars were 0.5-1.0 mm larger than dimensions by Vernier calipers. No statistically significant difference was observed between the caliper and CT measurements for the oblique AP diameter. Conclusion CT measurements of the articular pillars may slightly overestimate the desired screw length selected by spine surgeons when compared to actual anatomy. Although means of the articular pillars correspond to the screw lengths used, substantial number of observations below 10 mm for Roy-Camille trajectory and below 14 mm for Magerl trajectory requires careful preoperative planning and intra-operative confirmation to avoid long/misdirected lateral mass screws. keywords: lateral mass screws, articular pillar, typical cervical vertebra, posterior fixation volume 10 article 43
… of Neurosurgery: Spine, 2004
OSTERIOR cervical plate-augmented lateral mass fixation is currently used to achieve posterior internal fixation of the lower cervical spine. 19,24,32,33,35 This cervical posterior fixation device has been proven to restore the stability of the cervical motion segment after traumatic or postlaminectomy injuries. 3,4,8,21,30,31,34 Since Roy-Camille, et al., 27 first described the technique in 1972, many authors have discussed technical variations by which to improve its mechanical competence 2,6,22 or anatomical safety. 36 According to the authors of numerous anatomical studies , 10,15,20 there are two principal procedural types involved in lateral mass screw fixation: the Magerl technique (directed above the projection of the nerve root) and the Roy-Camille technique (directed below the projection of the nerve root close to the junction of the transverse process with the lateral mass). Only few comparative biomechanical studies have been published and these have yielded heterogeneous results. Montesano, et al., 22 comparing these two different techniques of screw placement, found that the Magerl technique provided greater resistance and had a higher load to failure (585 N) than the Roy-Camille technique (152 N); however, only three spines per surgical technique were used and only one technique per spine was tested (that is,
Lateral Mass Screw Fixation in the Cervical Spine: Introducing a New Technique
Asian Spine Journal
This was designed as a randomized double blind study to compare the classical Magerl technique of insertion of lateral mass screws with the authors' technique. The observations regarding length, outcome, and radiology was done by a group blinded to the technique used. Purpose: The present study was designed with the objective of identifying the optimal technique for introducing the lateral mass screws that uses the maximum possible dimension of the lateral mass. Overview of Literature: Lateral mass screw fixation is a common surgery that is performed in the cervical spine. Various modifications for the procedure have been described, such as changes in the entry point, angulation of the screws, and modifications in the exit point. These do not allow the insertion of longer screws that can give more purchase on the bone. Methods: From January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2018, 176 patients who were scheduled to undergo lateral mass screw fixation were enrolled. They were randomized into two groups; we inserted lateral mass screws using our new technique for one group and by using the classical Magerl technique for the other group. Intraoperative measurements were used to assess the bone-screw interface length. Postoperative radiography and postoperative computed tomography were performed to assess the trajectory of the screws. Results: Total 88 patients were included in the study group, including 68 men. The control group included 65 men. The most common indication for surgery was cervical spondylotic myelopathy. The average bi-cortical length that was measured intraoperatively was 19.9 mm in the study group and 16.3 mm in the control group. This was significantly different from the average lengths of screws in the control group. Conclusions: The trajectory that involves an entry point as close as possible to the posterior inferior medial angle of the lateral mass cuboid and traverses a distance of about 20 mm to obtain a bi-cortical purchase in the diagonally opposite angle may provide a much better and firmer bony purchase in the lateral mass than conventional points of entry and trajectories.
Asian spine journal, 2018
Retrospective study of 37 consecutive female patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy who underwent reconstructed computed tomography (CT) scanning of the cervical spine. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the vertebral lateral notch of the cervical spine is an effective landmark to determine the entry point for lateral mass screwing. A modified Roy-Camille technique was used to determine the entry point associated with the lateral notch of the cervical spine. The Roy-Camille technique has been a popular technique for the posterior fixation of the cervical spine. A problem with this technique is determining the entry point on the lateral mass via visual inspection, such as in cases with degenerative or destructive cervical facet joints. Thirty-three female patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy underwent reconstructed CT scanning of the cervical spine. Overall, 132 vertebrae from C3 to C6 were reviewed using reconstructed CT. The probable trajectory usi...
Lateral Mass Screw Fixation in the Cervical Spine
The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, 2013
Background: Lateral mass screw fixation with plates or rods has become the standard method of posterior cervical spine fixation and stabilization for a variety of surgical indications. Despite ubiquitous usage, the safety and efficacy of this technique have not yet been established sufficiently to permit ''on-label'' U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for lateral mass screw fixation systems. The purpose of this study was to describe the safety profile and effectiveness of such systems when used in stabilizing the posterior cervical spine. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE and the Cochrane Collaboration Library for articles published from January 1, 1980, to December 1, 2011. We included all articles evaluating safety and/or clinical outcomes in adult patients undergoing posterior cervical subaxial fusion utilizing lateral mass instrumentation with plates or rods for degenerative disease (spondylosis), trauma, deformity, inflammatory disease, and revision surgery that satisfied our a priori inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Twenty articles (two retrospective comparative studies and eighteen case series) satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were included. Both of the comparative studies involved comparison of lateral mass screw fixation with wiring and indicated that the risk of complications was comparable between treatments (range, 0% to 7.1% compared with 0% to 6.3%, respectively). In one study, the fusion rate reported in the screw fixation group (100%) was similar to that in the wiring group (97%). Complication risks following lateral mass screw fixation were low across the eighteen case series. Nerve root injury attributed to screw placement occurred in 1.0% (95% confidence interval, 0.3% to 1.6%) of patients. No cases of vertebral artery injury were reported. Instrumentation complications such as screw or rod pullout, screw or plate breakage, and screw loosening occurred in <1% of the screws inserted. Fusion was achieved in 97.0% of patients across nine case series. Conclusions: The risks of complications were low and the fusion rate was high when lateral mass screw fixation was used in patients undergoing posterior cervical subaxial fusion. Nerve root injury attributed to screw placement occurred in only 1% of 1041 patients. No cases of vertebral artery injury were identified in 758 patients. Screw or rod pullout, screw or plate breakage, and screw loosening occurred in <1% of the screws inserted.
International Journal of Anatomy and Research
Background: Pedicle screw fixation for mid-and lower cervical spine reconstruction has a potential risk of injury to surrounding structures. To achieve optimal surgical outcomes, it is therefore necessary that pertinent anatomical data, especially with regard to pedicles and vertebral bodies be considered prior to surgery. Methods: 63 patients were scanned using axial CT parallel to the upper endplate of the vertebral body (C3-C6) with a helical CT scanner. Foramen width (FW), Foramen height (FH), Pedicle width (PW), Foramen angle (FA), Pedicle transverse angle (PTA), Lateral mass angle (LMA) were measured. Mean value and standard deviation of each parameter were calculated. Results: Mean FW ranged from 5.8 to 6.1 mm with non-significant difference from C3 to C6.The mean FH ranged from 4.9 to 5.1 mm, with non-significant differences between each vertebra. The mean PW ranged from 5.3 to 5.8 mm. There were significant differences between each vertebra, except for the PW between C3 and C4. The FA ranged from 17.5 to 18.5. There were significant differences between each vertebra, except for the FA between C3 and C6. The mean PTA ranged from 39.8 to 35.8. The mean LMA ranged from 0.9 to 3.1.There were significant differences between each vertebra, except for the LMA between C4 and C5. The FW and FH exhibited no correlations with PW, PTA or LMA. FA was found to be positively correlated with both PTA and LMA. There was also a positive correlation between PTA and LMA. Conclusion: Anatomical features of the cervical spine using CT to select safer screw insertion techniques are highly recommended. In cases in which insertion of pedicle screws is difficult, Lateral Mass Screw (LMS) can be inserted safely. Whereas when insertion of LMS is difficult, insertion of pedicle screws can be performed easily.
Surgical Neurology, 2008
Background: There are various techniques in lateral mass screw placement in the cervical spine currently available, including the Roy-Camille, Magerl, Anderson, and An techniques. Each has different entrance points and trajectories for screw insertion, and some even have different methods for different level of the subaxial cervical spine. The potential risk of vascular and neurologic injury varies with different techniques and different levels of the cervical spine. We proposed a modified technique with a universal method of screw placement suitable for stabilization of every level of the subaxial cervical spines, from C3 to C7. We have applied this modified technique on a large series of patients and obtained satisfactory results. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of the charts, records, and clinical follow-up of 115 patients who received internal fixation with lateral mass screws and rods in the Department of Neurosurgery of Taipei Veterans General Hospital (Taipei, Taiwan) from 2004 to 2006. All patients received lateral mass screw placement in various levels of the subaxial cervical spines. The clinical and radiologic follow-up were carefully evaluated and analyzed. Results: All 115 patients with different pathological situations requiring stabilization received instrumentations with polyaxial screws and rod systems, in which 673 screws in total were used in various levels of the cervical spine between C3 and C7: 129 screws in C3, 115 in C4, 193 in C5, 101 in C6, and 135 in C7. The most often used screw length was 16 mm (385/673, 57%). Good bony fusion was observed in all patients except 1 (99.1%). The mean follow-up period was 14 months (4-35 months). No neurologic or vascular injury was noted clinically. Follow-up radiologic examinations found that the screw placements were well positioned. Conclusions: Based on our experience, lateral mass fixation of subaxial cervical spines with our modified technique is safe and effective. This technique of lateral mass screw placement yielded good fusion rate with very few complications and can be considered as a good alternative compared to techniques previously reported by other authors. It can eliminate the need of different techniques for different level to be fixed. In the selected cases, skipped level fixation with this technique is also satisfactory.
Spine, 2004
Background: Cervical pedicle screw (CPS) insertion is a technically demanding procedure. The quantitative understanding of cervical pedicle morphology, especially the narrowest part of cervical pedicle or isthmus, would minimize the risk of catastrophic damage to surrounding neurovascular structures and improve surgical outcome. The aim of this study was to investigate morphology and quantify cortical thickness of the cervical isthmus by using Multi-detector Computerized Tomography (MD-CT) scan. Methods: The cervical CT scans were performed in 74 patients (37 males and 37 females) with 1-mm slice thickness and then retro-reconstructed into sagittal and coronal planes to measure various cervical parameters as follows: outer pedicle width (OPW), inner pedicle width (IPW), outer pedicle height (OPH), inner pedicle height (IPH), pedicle cortical thickness, pedicle sagittal angle (PSA), and pedicle transverse angle (PTA). Results: Total numbers of 740 pedicles were measured in this present study. The mean OPW and IPW significantly increased from C3 to C7 while the mean OPH and IPH of those showed non-significant difference between any measured levels. The medial-lateral cortical thickness was significantly smaller than the superior-inferior one. PTA in the upper cervical spine was significantly wider than the lower ones. The PSA changed from upward inclination at upper cervical spine to the downward inclination at lower cervical spine. Conclusions: This study has demonstrated that cervical vertebra has relatively small and narrow inner pedicle canal with thick outer pedicle cortex and also shows a variable in pedicle width and inconsistent transverse angle. To enhance the safety of CPS insertion, the entry point and trajectories should be determined individually by using preoperative MD-CT scan and the inner pedicle width should be a key parameter to determine the screw dimensions.
European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 2014
To explore the best entry point and trajectory of anterior cervical transpedicular screws in the lower cervical spine by radiological studies, and provide reference for clinical application. Fifty patients were scanned by computed tomography and confirmed no obvious defect of the cervical spine. On horizontal axis, camber angle (α) and axial length (AL) were measured from C3 to C7. On sagittal view, the cranial or caudal angle (β) and sagittal length (SL) were also measured from C3 to C7. On the sagittal and horizontal planes vertebrae were respectively divided into four areas, ordered 1-4, on the anterior side of the pedicle. The areas and angles of pedicle intersect into the vertebral body were recorded. We inserted six anterior pedicle screws into the lower cervical spine of three patients by this technique. On transverse plane, camber angle (α) of C3-C5 increased gradually, while it decreased from C5 to C7. On sagittal view, C3 and C4 pedicles showed cranial tilting, while C5 to...