Abstract
BackgroundTranspedicular screws may cause damage to the cartilage in the neural arch of the vertebra, and give continuous pressure to the skeleton besides the vertebral body. The aim of this study is to examine the morphological change of the vertebral body at fixation sites and development of the vertebral body after fixation.MethodsA piglet model was used to study the influence of transpedicular screw fixation on spine development. Transpedicular screw fixation was adjusted to meet specific requirements of surgery on piglet. The screws and plates were placed at L1–L3 vertebral plates via routine surgical approach. Scoliosis and kyphosis Cobb angles were measured.ResultsAnatomical characteristics of 6-week-old piglets fit the transpedicular screw system, and can meet the requirements of related studies. Transpedicular screw fixation system has no significant influence on the development of canalis vertebralis. Fixation did not cause developmental stenosis of canalis vertebralis and damage to spinal cord or nerve root. However, transpedicular screw fixation significantly impacted the development of the spine: it shortened the spine by curtailing the length of the vertebral body and intervertebral space. Our results also suggested that slow growth of epiphyseal plate may contribute to the shortening of the vertebral body.ConclusionTranspedicular screw fixation system is beneficial for fixation of the developing spine. It may not cause scoliosis but could lead to change of cervical curvature.
Highlights
Transpedicular screws may cause damage to the cartilage in the neural arch of the vertebra, and give continuous pressure to the skeleton besides the vertebral body
Data from this study suggested that transpedicular screw fixation system may be beneficial for fixation of developing spine, while not causing scoliosis
Transpedicular screw fixation system had no significant influence on canalis vertebralis development, and neither did it cause developmental stenosis of canalis vertebralis nor damage of spinal cord and nerve root
Summary
Transpedicular screws may cause damage to the cartilage in the neural arch of the vertebra, and give continuous pressure to the skeleton besides the vertebral body. The aim of this study is to examine the morphological change of the vertebral body at fixation sites and development of the vertebral body after fixation. Transpedicular screw fixation was developed by RoyCamille in the 1970s [1], and had been used to treat unstable thoracolumbar junction fractures. Transpedicular screw fixation was widely used for spinal fracture, deformity, tumor, and degenerative diseases, boosting the development of spinal surgery [2,3,4]. The processus spinosus and vertebral plate of children were frail, and the pedicle and vertebral body cannot form firm synostosis.
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