An injectable cementing screw for fixation in osteoporotic bone

With the aging population, osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures are becoming more prevalent. Adequate screw fixation in this type of bone is difficult. Screws are often cemented in bone to help obtain purchase. However, current cementing techniques do not ensure implant stability. Here we present a new cannulated screw with side ports that can be injected with polymethylmethacylate (PMMA) for fixation in osteoporotic bone. We compared the ultimate holding power of this cannulated screw injected with PMMA to a solid screw with the same dimensions secured with PMMA by the standard technique. Both screws were placed into embalmed and fresh frozen lumbar vertebral bodies and pulled out using a mechanical testing system. The cannulated screw had a 278% greater holding power compared to the standard screw (p < 0.006). The cannulated screw provided a significant increase in holding power in osteoporotic bone. This novel screw is promising for fixation in osteoporotic bone and warrants clinical evaluation.