Influence of the screw augmentation technique and a diameter increase on pedicle screw fixation in the osteoporotic spine : pullout versus fatigue testing

Purpose: For posterior spinal stabilization, loosening of pedicle screws at the bone-screw interface is a clinical complication, especially in the osteoporotic population. Axial pullout testing is the standard pre-clinical testing method for new screw designs although it has questioned clinical relevance. The aim of this study was to determine the fixation strength of three current osteoporotic fixation techniques and to investigate whether or not pullout testing results can directly relate to those of the more physiologic fatigue testing.

Subjects

Cement augmentation

Fatigue

Pedicle screw

Pullout

Spine

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DDC Class

610: Medicine, Health

620: Engineering

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Influence of the screw augmentation technique and a diameter increase on pedicle screw fixation in the osteoporotic spine : pullout versus fatigue testing