Iliac screw placement in neuromuscular scoliosis using anatomical landmarks and uniplanar anteroposterior fluoroscopic imaging with postoperative CT confirmation

Abstract

Neuromuscular scoliosis is a challenging pathology to treat. Surgical correction can involve long fusion constructs extending to the pelvis. The deformity inherent in these patients makes it difficult to obtain adequate lateral intraoperative radiographs for traditional image-guided placement of iliac screws. A clinical and radiographic assessment of 14 patients with neuromuscular spinal deformity was conducted. From 2007 to 2013, 12 of these patients (mean age 14.25 years, range 10-20 years) underwent long spinal instrumentation (mean 15 levels, range 10-18 levels) and fusion to the pelvis, and 2 underwent placement of a growing rod construct with iliac screw placement at a single institution. The average length of follow-up was 33.7 months (range 6-64 months). Iliac screws were placed after identifying the posterior superior iliac spine and using only anteroposterior fluoroscopy (view of the inlet of the pelvis), rather than the technique of direct palpation of the sciatic notch. The accuracy of iliac screw placement was assessed with routine postoperative CT. A total of 12 patients had 24 screws placed as part of a long-segment fusion to the pelvis, and 2 patients had two iliac screws placed as part of a growing rod construct for neuromuscular scoliosis. There were no iliac screw misplacements, and no complications directly related to the technique of iliac screw placement. For cases of definitive fusion (n = 12), the average coronal Cobb angle of patients with neuromuscular spinal deformity measured 62° before surgery and 44.3° immediately after surgery. The average preoperative thoracic kyphosis and lumbar sagittal lordosis measured 37.3° and 60.7°, respectively. Immediately after surgery, the thoracic and lumbar angles measured 30° and 41.1°, respectively. At last follow-up, the average coronal Cobb angle was maintained at 45.1°, and the thoracic and lumbar sagittal angles were maintained at 32.8° and 45.3°, respectively. A less invasive technique for iliac screw placement can be performed safely with a low likelihood of screw misplacement. This technique offers the biomechanical advantages of iliac fixation without the soft tissue exposure typically needed for safe screw insertion. The technique relies on identification of the posterior superior iliac spine and high quality anteroposterior fluoroscopic imaging for a view of the pelvic inlet.