Cervical pedicle screw insertion using a gutter entry point at the transitional area between the lateral mass and lamina

Purpose  

The purpose of this study was to describe a free-hand pedicle screw insertion technique and to evaluate the accuracy of pedicle screw placement and validity of pedicle screw fixation in patients with subaxial cervical spine injuries.     

Optimal entry points and trajectories for cervical pedicle screw placement into subaxial cervical vertebrae

The present study was performed to determine the optimal entry points and trajectories for cervical pedicle screw insertion into C3–7. The study involved 40 patients (M:F = 20:20) with various cervical diseases. A surgical simulation program was used to construct three-dimensional spine models from cervical spine axial CT images. Axial, sagittal, and coronal plane data were simultaneously processed to determine the ideal pedicle trajectory (a line passing through the center of the pedicle on coronal, sagittal, and transverse CT images). The optimal entry points on the lateral masses were then identified. Horizontal offsets and vertical offsets of the optimal entry points were measured from three different anatomical landmarks: the lateral notch, the center of the superior edge and the center of lateral mass. The transverse angle and sagittal angles of the ideal pedicle trajectory were measured. Using those entry points and trajectory results, virtual screws were placed into the pedicles using the simulation program, and the outcomes were evaluated. We found that at C3–6, the optimal entry point was located 2.0–2.4 mm medial and 0–0.8 mm inferior to the lateral notch. Since the difference of 1 mm is difficult to discern intra-operatively, for ease of remembrance, we recommend rounding off our findings to arrive at a starting point for the C3–6 pedicle screws to be 2 mm directly medial to the lateral notch. At C7, by contrast, the optimal entry point was 1.6 mm lateral and 2.5 mm superior to the center of lateral mass. Again, for ease of remembrance, we recommend rounding off these numbers to use a starting point for the C7 pedicle screws to be 2 mm lateral and 2 mm superior to the center of lateral mass. The average transverse angles were 45° at C3–5, 38° at C6, and 28° at C7. The entry points for each vertebra should be adjusted according to the transverse angles of pedicles. The mean sagittal angles were 7° upward at C3, and parallel to the upper end plate at C4–7. The simulation study showed that the entry point and ideal pedicle trajectory led to screw placements that were safer than those used in other studies.     

导航系统辅助下颈椎椎弓根螺钉置钉准确性的实验研究

目的：评价导航系统辅助下颈椎（C3～C7）椎弓根螺钉内固定置钉的准确性.方法：将32具成人尸体颈椎标本随机分为4组,分别采用盲法、透视法、透视导航法和CT导航法进行下颈椎椎弓根螺钉置入.术后采用标本大体解剖观察的方法评价置钉准确性.分优（螺钉完全在椎弓根内）、可（仅有螺纹穿出,对周围组织无损伤）和差（螺钉明显穿出）进行统计.结果：共置入螺钉318枚.盲法80枚,平均手术时间27min,优29枚（36 3%）、可21枚（26.3%）、差30枚（37.5%）;透视法78枚（有1例C4、C5右侧椎弓根均细小,不能容纳3.5mm螺钉）,平均手术时间112min,优35枚（44.9%）、可29枚（37.2%）、差14枚（17.9%）;透视导航法80枚,平均手术时间69min,优34枚（42.5%）,可36枚（45%）,差10枚（12.5%）;CT导航法80枚,平均手术时间98min,优70枚（87.5%）、可10枚（12.5%）.各组间手术时间均有显著性差异（P＜0.05）,透视法与透视导航法的置钉准确率间无显著性差异,其余各组间均有显著性差异（P＜0.05）.结论：单纯根据术前影像结果盲法行下颈椎椎弓根螺钉内固定不安全.透视法和透视导航法可提高置钉准确性,但手术风险仍较大,透视导航法比透视法置钉的手术时间缩短.CT导航法并未比透视法增加手术时间,但置钉准确性显著提高.     

Clinical accuracy of cervical pedicle screw insertion using lateral fluoroscopy: a radiographic analysis of the learning curve

Abstract  

Cervical pedicle screw is thought to be the most stable instrumentation for reconstructive surgery of the cervical spine. However, because of the unresolved and inherent risk of neurovascular injuries due to screw perforation, it remains not widespread nowadays despite the excellent biomechanical property. Fifty-two consecutive cases having undergone spinal reconstruction using cervical pedicle screw were investigated. There were 24 females and 28 males. The mean follow-up period was 53 months. Those patients were stratified into three groups according to the period of screw insertion. A total of 280 screws were inserted. Ninety-two screws in 19 cases, 100 screws in 18 cases and 88 screws in 15 cases were inserted in the earlier, the middle and the later periods, respectively. Clinical results including complications were recorded in all cases. Screw perforations were evaluated in both plain X-ray and CT. Screw perforations occurred in 11 (12.0%), 7 (7.0%) and 1 (1.1%) screws in each period. There were no complications, such as infection, neurological deterioration and neurovascular injury directly related to screw insertion. The learning curve showed a significant improvement especially in the later period. However, the perforation rates in both the earlier and middle periods must not be underestimated. Surgeons with less experience must insert cervical pedicle screws with the assistance of a senior surgeon to avoid lethal complications.     

颈椎椎弓根三种置钉法的实验研究

目的: 评价 3种颈椎椎弓根置钉方法。方法: 3组尸体各 9具, 行颈椎CT影像测量后分别用 3种方法进行椎弓根置钉, 其结果由CT验证。结果: 颈椎椎弓根三维定位器法置钉 90枚, 椎弓根内占 90%, 其中神经根损伤 2枚, 椎动脉损伤 1枚; Abumi法置钉 90枚, 椎弓根内占 55. 56%, 其中神经根损伤 19枚, 椎动脉损伤 4枚; Ebraheim法置钉 72枚, 椎弓根内占 29. 17%, 其中神经根损伤 24枚, 椎动脉损伤 29枚, 3种方法均无脊髓损伤。结论: 在术中不探查椎弓根、无影像设备导向条件下, 颈椎椎弓根三维定位器置钉准确率较Abumi手法置钉高, 而Ebraheim法不适用于国人。     

Anterior cervical pedicle screw and plate fixation using fluoroscope-assisted pedicle axis view imaging: a preliminary report of a new cervical reconstruction technique

Anterior procedures in the cervical spine are feasible in cases having anterior aetiologies such as anterior neural compression and/or severe kyphosis. Halo vests or anterior plates are used concurrently for cases with long segmental fixation. Halo vests are bothersome and anterior plate fixation is not adequately durable. We developed a new anterior pedicle screw (APS) and plate fixation procedure that can be used with fluoroscope-assisted pedicle axis view imaging. Six patients (3 men and 3 women; mean age, 54 years) with anterior multisegmental aetiology were included in this study. Their original diagnoses comprised cervical myelopathy and/or radiculopathy (n = 4), posterior longitudinal ligament ossification (n = 1) and post-traumatic kyphosis (n = 1). All patients underwent anterior decompression and strut grafting with APS and plate fixation. Mean operative time was 192 min and average blood loss was 73 ml. Patients were permitted to ambulate the next day with a cervical collar. Local sagittal alignment was characterised by 3.5° of kyphosis preoperatively, which improved to 6.8° of lordosis postoperatively and 5.2° of lordosis at final follow-up. Postoperative improvement and early bony union were observed in all cases. There was no serious complication except for two cases of dysphagia. Postoperative imaging demonstrated screw exposure in one screw, but no pedicle perforation. APS and plate fixation is useful in selected cases of multisegmental anterior reconstruction of cervical spine. However, the adequate familiarity and experience with both cervical pedicle screw fixation and the imaging technique used for visualising the pedicle during surgery are crucial for this procedure.     

Use of computed tomographic reconstruction to establish the ideal entry point for pedicle screws in idiopathic scoliosis

Objective  

To determine the ideal entry point for individual pedicle screw in the surgical treatment of idiopathic scoliosis using computed tomographic (CT) three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction.     

An analysis of the anatomic features of the cervical spine using computed tomography to select safer screw insertion techniques

Purpose

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the anatomic features of the cervical spine using computed tomography (CT) to select safer screw insertion techniques, particularly emphasizing the location of the transverse foramen.

Methods

Fifty patients who underwent multiplanar CT reconstruction were evaluated. There were 34 males and 16 females with an average age of 67 years. The parameters included the following measurements: foramen width (the size of the transverse foramen FW), foramen height (the size of the transverse foramen FH), pedicle width (PW), foramen angle (FA the position of the transverse foramen), pedicle transverse angle (PTA) and lateral mass angle (LMA).

Results

The mean FW ranged from 6.2 to 6.3 mm (n.s). The mean FH ranged from 5.0 to 5.7 mm, with significant differences between each vertebra, except for the FH between C4 and C5 and the FH between C5 and C6. The mean PW ranged from 5.4 to 6.1 mm. There were significant differences between each vertebra, except for the PW between C3 and C4 and the PW between C3 and C5. The mean FA ranged from 18.8° to 20.5°. There were significant differences between each vertebra, except for the FA between C3 and C6 and the FA between C4 and C5. The mean PTA ranged from 37.1° to 45.4°. There were significant differences between each vertebra, except for the PTA between C3 and C5. The mean LMA ranged from 1.0° to 5.3°. 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.

Conclusions

We suggest that in cases in which pedicle screw insertion is difficult, lateral mass screws (LMS) can be inserted safely and longer sizes can be selected. In contrast, in cases in which LMS insertion is difficult, the insertion of pedicle screws can be performed relatively easy.     

Ideal starting point and trajectory for C2 pedicle screw placement: a 3D computed tomography analysis using perioperative measurements

Background contextC2 pedicle screws provide stable fixation for posterior cervical fusion. Placing C2 pedicle screws is fraught with risks, and a misplaced screw can result in cortical breach of the pedicle, resulting in injury to the vertebral artery or spinal cord.PurposeWe sought to identify a reproducible starting point and trajectory for C2 pedicle screw placement using three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) imaging. Our aims included identifying correct cephalad and mediolateral angles used for determining the most accurate trajectory through the C2 pedicle.Study designA radiographic analysis of the anatomy of the C2 pedicle using CT.Patient sampleA random sample of 34 cervical spine CT scans in patients without medical or surgical pathology of the cervical spine.Outcome measuresNormal anatomic measurements made in the axial and sagittal planes of the CT scans. Angles and measures in millimeters were recorded.MethodsThe C2 pedicles were evaluated using CT scanning with a 3D imaging application. The ideal trajectory through each pedicle was plotted. The mediolateral and cephalad angles were measured using the midline sagittal plane and the inferior vertebral body border as references. Other measurements made were the distances through the pedicle and vertebral bodies, and the surface distances along the laminae between the isthmus and the starting point of the chosen trajectories. Other measurements involving the height of the laminae were also made. The mean values, standard deviations, and intraobserver variations are presented.ResultsCT scans from 34 patients were reviewed. The sex of the patient did not predict angle measurements (p=.2038), so combined male and female patient measures are presented. The mean mediolateral angle measured was 29.2°, and the mean cephalad angle was 23.0°. The mean distance along the lamina surface between the isthmus and the starting point was 8.1 mm. The mean distance from the superior border of the lamina to the starting point was 5.7 mm. There were no statistically significant differences between the dataset collected in duplicate by the same observer (p=.74); as such, we present one data analysis on combined data from the two datasets collected.ConclusionIt is possible to determine an ideal trajectory through the C2 pedicle. These measurements may facilitate C2 pedicle screw fixation decreasing the risk of injury to the vertebral artery, spinal cord, or nerve roots. Delineating the individual anatomy in each case with imaging before surgery is recommended.     

颈椎弓根置钉的影像不测量

目的：探索一种能指导颈椎弓根螺钉置钉手术操作的影像学测量方法。方法：随机取福尔马林浸泡的成人颈椎标本（Cl-Tl)共7具,保留完整的脊柱三柱结构及相关的韧带和椎旁肌。分别摄取颈椎标本的X线片及CT断层扫描,测量其颈椎弓根内、外径的高、宽、选择以颈椎侧块平面为参考平面,进行进钉点和进钉方向的测量,并将7具标本全部进行实体解剖肉眼观察,对比影像学测量结果的有效性。结果：影像学测量结果与实体解剖测量比较有效率为100%。结论：该影像学测量方法可为颈椎弓根螺钉的置钉提供参考。     

三维定位器置钉方法的研究

[目的]研制一种三维定位装置，用于置钉导向，为普及椎弓根螺钉技术在临床颈椎上的应用提供安全保障。[方法]不锈钢材料，精密制造颈椎椎弓根定位器，输入从标本CT影像上搜集的数据后定位、置钉，结果由CT影像验证，并与Abumi法手法置钉对照。[结果]三维定位器法置钉90枚，椎弓根内置钉率90％，椎弓根穿破率10％；Abumi法置钉90枚，椎弓根内置钉率55．6％，椎弓根穿破率44．4％。[结论]颈椎椎弓根三维定位器及其定位方法操作简单，精确度高，成本低廉，能够进行个体化置钉，较手法置钉准确、安全，有利于颈椎椎弓根螺钉技术的普及，其器械原理、结构和方法是可行的。     

术中三维C型臂实时透视导航辅助颈椎椎弓根螺钉的植入

目的 探讨术中三维C型臂实时透视导航在颈椎椎弓根螺钉植入手术中的应用.方法 在导航下行颈椎椎弓根螺钉固定术22例,其中颈椎骨折9例,颈椎肿瘤4例,颈椎滑脱失稳6例,颈椎病3例.术后进行CT扫描,评估螺钉位置.结果 导航下22例共植入112枚颈椎椎弓根螺钉.术后CT椎弓根位置扫描:A级,107枚(95.5%);B级,3枚;C级,1枚;D级,1枚.术后临床无脊髓、神经和椎动脉损伤.结论 术中三维C型臂实时透视导航系统可以准确引导颈椎椎弓根螺钉的植入.     

胸腰椎椎弓根螺钉植入技术的研究进展

胸腰椎椎弓根螺钉内固定技术的开展，有力地推动了脊柱外科的发展。该技术的关键是，螺钉的植入必须位于三维空间中唯一的一个正确通道上，即按照正确的矢状面角及水平面角，沿椎弓根的长轴穿过椎弓根这一狭小的骨性管道达惟体内。近年来，胸腰椎椎弓根螺钉植入技术的研究取得了很大发展，尤其是术中监测手段，已从传统的X线透视或摄片监测定位发展到计算机辅助技术进行可视化监测。本文结合国内外研究成果，对胸腰椎椎弓根螺钉植入技术的研究进展进行概述。     

O形臂实时导航在颈椎椎弓根螺钉固定术中的应用

目的:探讨在O形臂导航下提高颈椎椎弓根螺钉置钉准确性的技术要点。方法:对2015年12月至2020年1月接受O形臂导航下颈椎椎弓根钉内固定术治疗的21例患者进行回顾性分析,其中男15例,女6例,年龄29～76(45.3±11.5)岁。术后CT扫描以Gertzbein&Robbins分级评估颈椎弓根螺钉置钉的准确性。结果:21例患者共置入132枚椎弓根螺钉,其中116枚置于C₃-C₆节段,16枚置于环枢椎。术后CT扫描根据Gertzbein&Robbins分级,11.36%(15/132)打破椎弓根,其中73.33%(11/15)为B级,26.67%(4/15)为C级,无D-E级破壁。所有患者术后随访无内固定所致相关并发症。结论:在合理选择适应证的前提下,O形臂导航下能够提高颈椎椎弓根螺钉置钉准确性和可靠性,使得手术医师更有信心进行复杂困难的颈椎内固定操作。但是考虑到颈椎弓根周围重要而复杂的邻近解剖结构,以及可能导致的灾难性后果,不仅应该熟练掌握导航技术要点,积累足够操作经验,同时警惕影像漂移,不应完全依赖导航。     

3D打印椎弓根导航模板在下颈椎椎弓根置钉中的临床应用

【摘要】 目的：探讨采用优化设计的3D打印椎弓根导航模板辅助下颈椎椎弓根螺钉置入的安全性和准确性。方法：回顾性分析2016年8月~2022年10月在我科行颈椎后路椎弓根螺钉内固定手术的患者42例,年龄32~74岁（50.1±9.8岁）,随访13~25个月（19.6±3.2个月）。根据置钉方式分为导板组（n=22）和徒手组（n=20）：导板组采用优化的椎弓根钻孔导航模板设计方案,3D打印制作下颈椎椎弓根导航模板辅助椎弓根置钉,其中男性12例,女性10例,颈椎损伤或颈脊髓损伤6例,后纵韧带骨化症（OPLL）9例,颈椎管肿瘤5例,脊髓型颈椎病2例;徒手组根据术前颈椎CT测量椎弓根角度、直径等参数,采用徒手置钉,其中男、女各10例,颈椎损伤或颈脊髓损伤4例,OPLL 10例,颈椎管肿瘤5例,脊髓型颈椎病1例。两组患者性别构成、年龄、诊断、术前VAS评分、JOA评分比较无统计学差异（P>0.05）。记录两组患者手术时间、术中出血量;术后1周颈椎CT扫描,按照Kaneyama方法评估椎弓根置钉的准确性：0级,螺钉完全位于椎弓根内;1级,穿破椎弓根的部分<螺钉直径的50%;2级,穿破椎弓根的部分>螺钉直径的50%;3级,椎弓根螺钉完全位于椎弓根外。0级或1级定义为椎弓根置钉准确,2级或3级为螺钉误置。记录患者的围手术期并发症,统计并比较两组术后12个月疼痛视觉模拟评分（VAS）、日本骨科学会（JOA）评分。结果：42例患者手术顺利,导板组手术时间102.2±16.1min,术中出血量89.3±17.7mL;均少于徒手组142.8±20.9min,133.3±34.0mL（P<0.01）。42例患者共置入下颈椎椎弓根螺钉216枚：导板组118枚,其中0级90枚,1级22枚,2级5枚,3级1枚,置钉准确率94.9%（112/118）;徒手组98枚,其中0级48枚,1级36枚,2级10枚,3级4枚,置钉准确率85.7%（84/98）。导板组置钉准确率显著性高于徒手组（P<0.05）。两组患者均未出现螺钉相关神经血管损伤,无内固定松动断裂并发症,术后12个月VAS评分较术前显著性降低（P<0.01）,JOA评分较术前显著性提高（P<0.01）,两组间比较无显著性差异（P>0.05）。结论：3D打印椎弓根导航模板的优化设计方案有助于提高下颈椎椎弓根置钉的准确性。     

Analysis of accuracy of computer‐assisted navigation in cervical pedicle screw installation

Objective: To observe the accuracy of computer‐assisted navigation (CAN) in cervical pedicle screw installation and to analyze the reasons for screw malposition. Methods: From October 2004 to December 2009, 144 cervical pedicle screws were installed in 25 patients with cervical spinal diseases using CAN. Screw position and direction were measured on sagittal and transection images from intraoperative navigation and postoperative CTs. Results: Among 144 screws inserted from C3 to C7, two perforated the upper pedicle wall and three deviated from the lateral pedicle wall. The rate of accurate cervical pedicle screw placement with CAN was 96.5% (139/144) in our group. There was no statistical difference in the position and direction of the pedicle screws according to navigation images and CT scans. Conclusion: CAN can result in high accuracy of cervical pedicle installation. The excursion phenomenon is responsible for malposition of pedicle screws. Only by understanding the navigational principles of CAN and the characteristics of cervical spinal surgery, together with personal experience, can good use be made of CAN.     

Computer-assisted screw insertion for cervical disorders in rheumatoid arthritis

To reconstruct highly destructed unstable rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cervical lesions, the authors have been using C1/2 transarticular and cervical pedicle screw fixations. Pedicle screw fixation and C1/2 transarticular screw fixation are biomechanically superior to other fixation techniques for RA patients. However, due to severe spinal deformity and small anatomical size of the vertebra, including the lateral mass and pedicle, in the most RA cervical lesions, these screw fixation procedures are technically demanding and pose the potential risk of neurovascular injuries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and safety of cervical pedicle screw insertion to the deformed, fragile, and small RA spine lesions using computer-assisted image-guidance systems. A frameless, stereotactic image-guidance system that is CT-based, and optoelectronic was used for correct screw placement. A total of 21 patients (16 females, 5 males) with cervical disorders due to RA were surgically treated using the image-guidance system. Postoperative computerized tomography and plane X-ray was used to determine the accuracy of the screw placement. Neural and vascular complications associated with screw insertion and postoperative neural recovery were evaluated. Postoperative radiological evaluations revealed that only 1 (2.1%; C4) of 48 screws inserted into the cervical pedicle had perforated the vertebral artery canal more than 25% (critical breach). However, no neurovascular complications were observed. According to Ranawat's classification, 9 patients remained the same, and 12 patients showed improvement. Instrumentation failure, loss of reduction, or nonunion was not observed at the final follow-up (average 49.5 months; range 24-96 months). In this study, the authors demonstrated that image-guidance systems could be applied safely to the cervical lesions caused by RA. Image-guidance systems are useful tools in preoperative planning and in transarticular or transpedicular screw placement in the cervical spine of RA patients.     

Cervical pedicle screw guiding jig,an innovative solution

Pedicle screws are one the commonest used modality in spinal instrumentation. However, the method of pedicle screw fixation in cervical spine as compared to thoracic and lumbar spine is still technically demanding because it carries the risk of catastrophic damage to the surrounding neurovascular structures We have utilized virtual planning and 3D (3-dimension) printing to develop a patient specific jig to guide the accurate placement of pedicle screws. A patient with bifacetal dislocation C7 over D1 classified as flexion-distraction injury type 3 who was planned for decompression and fusion by posterior instrumentation at C6, C7, D1 and D2 was selected. A CT scan with 1?mm cuts was used to produce DICOM images of the same. Using these DICOM images virtual planning was done on MIMICS and 3 MATICS software to create patient specific jigs. These jigs were then 3D printed using a 3D printer and used for accurate placement of pedicle screws intra-operatively after adequate sterilization. Our procedure is low cost but high technology based. It is simple, accurate, and very cost effective. The technology transfer is very easy and can be adopted easily.     

Applied anatomy of the lower cervical pedicle screw insertion

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain an accurate approach to inserting the pedicle screw into C3-C7 segments of the cervical vertebra. METHODS: Anatomic morphology of lateral mass and pedicle, and their anatomic relationship with the adjacent tissue were observed on C3-C7 segments of 25 adult embalmed cadavers (50 sides). RESULTS: 1) The inferior edge of the base of the posterior tubercle of the transverse process and the inferior edge of the pedicle were connected with each other on 25 adult embalmed cadavers (50 sides). The transverse section which passed through the median point between the superior edge and the inferior edge of the base of the posterior tubercle of the transverse process, and the transverse section which passed through the central axis between the superior edge and the inferior edge of the pedicle, were in the same horizontal plane. The superior and inferior position of placing the pedicle screw was determined by this transverse section, which passed through the median point between the superior and the inferior edge of the base of the posterior tubercle of the transverse process. 2) There was a directed internal-downwards "triangular sulcule" between the base of the posterior tubercle of the transverse process and the anterolateral edge of the inferior articular process. The anterior wall of the triangular sulcule was the base of the posterior tubercle of the transverse process, the posterior wall was the anterolateral edge of the inferior articular process, and the bottom of the sulcule was connected with the interior edge of the pedicle. The vertical length between the top of triangle and the planes of inferior edge of the pedicle was (2.78+/-1.71) mm. The inferior edge of the cervical pedicle could be detected using a blunt probe along the "triangular sulcule" between the base of the posterior tubercle of the transverse process and the anterolateral edge of the inferior articular process in surgical operation. 3) The lateral fovea of the articular process was observed on all lateral masses (50 sides). The internal and external position of the entrance point could depend on anatomic landmarks: the lateral edge of the lateral fovea of the articular process. The horizontal length between the lateral fovea of the articular process and the entrance point was (3.14+/-1.45) mm. 4) The diameter of pedicle screw, about (2.78+/-1.71) mm, was the transverse diameter of the cancellous bone of the greatest narrow part of the cervical pedicle. CONCLUSIONS: The median point between the superior edge and the inferior edge of the base of the posterior tubercle of the transverse process, the lateral fovea of the articular process, and the triangular sulcule between the base of the posterior tubercle of the transverse process and the anterolateral edge of inferior articular process, are easy to be exposed and identified in surgical operation. The pedicle screw can be precisely inserted through this method.     

透视及导航下颈椎椎弓根螺钉内固定术的临床应用经验

目的　报告使用透视下及无线主动式红外诱导计算机导航引导下进行颈椎椎弓根钉固定手术的经验 ,分析手术成功的要素。方法　自 2 0 0 1年 10月至 2 0 0 2年 12月共行颈椎椎弓根螺钉 -AXIS钛板内固定 2 9例 ,男性 18例 ,女性 11例。年龄 2 6岁～ 76岁 ,平均年龄 4 9.4岁。使用C形臂X线透视下螺钉置入 2 5例 ,无线主动式红外诱导计算机导航下椎弓根内固定 4例。共置入椎弓根螺钉 174枚。结果　 174枚螺钉中有 15 5枚 (89% )位置正确。 19枚螺钉存在不同程度的偏差 ,均为内倾不够 ,1例出现一过性神经根合并症。计算机导航置入螺钉 2 4枚 ,位置正确率 10 0 %。术前颈椎后凸者固定节段曲度平均- 12 .1°术后平均 - 0 .6° ,明显得到纠正。术后 3个月和 6个月的随诊 ,颈椎曲度和固定节段椎体高度均维持 ,没有出现内固定物松动 ,螺钉断裂等情况。结论　颈椎椎弓根钉固定手术是颈椎获得牢固固定的方法 ,为颈椎后路手术提供了更广的操作空间 ,免去部分同时前路手术的需要 ,而且可以用于颈椎后凸的矫正。但是结构的复杂性和变异性及周围的神经血管使手术难度加大 ,在透视下可以比较安全地置入螺钉 ,更好的方法是使用计算机导航技术。这一技术具有良好的临床应用前景。