Abstract
PurposeTo design a new type of screw for minimally invasive atlantoaxial anterior transarticular screw (AATS) fixation with a diameter that is significantly thicker than that of traditional screws, threaded structures at both ends, and a porous metal structure in the middle. The use of a porous metal structure can effectively promote bone fusion and compensate for the disadvantages of traditional AATSs in terms of insufficient fixation strength and difficulty of bone fusion. The biomechanical stability of this screw was verified through finite element analysis. This instrument may provide a new surgical option for the treatment of atlantoaxial disorders.MethodsAccording to the surgical procedure, the new type of AATS was placed in a three-dimensional atlantoaxial model to determine the setting of relevant parameters such as the diameter, length, and thread to porous metal ratio of the structure. According to the results of measurement, the feasibility and safety of the new AATS were verified, and a representative finite element model of the upper cervical vertebrae was chosen to establish, and the validity of the model was verified. Then, finite element-based biomechanical analysis was performed using three models, i.e., atlantoaxial posterior pedicle screw fixation, traditional atlantoaxial AATS fixation, and atlantoaxial AATS fixation with the new type of screw, and the biomechanical effectiveness of the novel AATS was verified.ResultsBy measuring the atlantoaxial parameters, the atlantoaxial CT data of the representative 30-year-old normal adult male were selected to create a personalized 3D printing AATS screw. In this case, the design parameters of the new screw were determined as follows: diameter, 6 mm; length of the head thread structure, 10 mm; length of the middle porous metal structure, 8 mm (a middle porous structure containing an annular cylinder ); length of the tail thread structure, 8 mm; and total length, 26 mm. Applying the same load conditions to the atlantoaxial complex along different directions in the established finite element models of the three types of atlantoaxial fusion modes, the immediate stability of the new AATS is similar with Atlantoaxial posterior pedicle screw fixation.They are both superior to traditional atlantoaxial anterior screw fixation.The maximum local stress on the screw head in the atlantoaxial anterior surgery was less than those of traditional atlantoaxial anterior surgery.ConclusionsBy measuring relevant atlantoaxial data, we found that screws with a larger diameter can be used in AATS surgery, and the new AATS can make full use of the atlantoaxial lateral mass space and increase the stability of fixation. The finite element analysis and verification revealed that the biomechanical stability of the new AATS was superior to the AATS used in traditional atlantoaxial AATS fixation. The porous metal structure of the new AATS may promote fusion between atlantoaxial joints and allow more effective bone fusion in the minimally invasive anterior approach surgery.
Highlights
Atlantoaxial instability and atlantoaxial dislocation often lead to spinal cord compression, spinal cord injury, increased rates of paraplegia, and effects on the respiratory centre, and in severe cases, it can endanger the lives of patients [1, 2]
Applying the same load conditions to the atlantoaxial complex along different directions in the established finite element models of the three types of atlantoaxial fusion modes, the immediate stability of the new anterior transarticular screw (AATS) is similar with Atlantoaxial posterior pedicle screw fixation.They are both superior to traditional atlantoaxial anterior screw fixation.The maximum local stress on the screw head in the atlantoaxial anterior surgery was less than those of traditional atlantoaxial anterior surgery
By measuring relevant atlantoaxial data, we found that screws with a larger diameter can be used in AATS surgery, and the new AATS can make full use of the atlantoaxial lateral mass space and increase the stability of fixation
Summary
Atlantoaxial instability and atlantoaxial dislocation often lead to spinal cord compression, spinal cord injury, increased rates of paraplegia, and effects on the respiratory centre, and in severe cases, it can endanger the lives of patients [1, 2]. Percutaneous minimally invasive anterior transarticular screw (AATS) fixation is an effective surgical approach to address atlantoaxial instability [6, 7], and this approach results in smaller surgical wounds, less damage to muscle ligaments, and less risk than posterior atlantoaxial surgery. The immediate stability of anterior minimally invasive surgery is not clear, and the amount of bone graft and the position of bone grafting are not easy to control. Many studies have shown that a porous metal structure can effectively promote the bone fusion rate, which has been verified in a variety of models [9,10,11]. The bone fusion-promoting characteristic of the porous metal structure can compensate for the shortcoming of the difficulty of bone fusion of traditional AATS fixation. Finite element analysis was used to verify the biomechanical stability of the new AATS
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