Improving the pullout strength of pedicle screws by screw coupling

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of pedicle screw coupling on the pullout strength of pedicle screws in the osteoporotic spine. The vertebral bone mineral density (BMD) of 33 cadaveric lumbar vertebrae were measured by quantitative computed tomography. Pedicle screws were inserted into each pedicle. The pullout strength and displacement of the screws, without coupling and with single or double couplers, were studied, and the relationship between pullout strength and BMD was analyzed. The average pullout strength of the pedicle screws without screw coupling was 909.3 +/- 188.6 N (n = 9), that coupled with a single coupler was 1,409.0 +/- 469.1 N (n = 9), and that with double couplers was 1,494.0 +/- 691.6 N (n = 9). The pullout strength of the screws coupled with single or double couplers was significantly greater than that of screws without couplers (p < 0.01); however, there was no significant difference between the groups of single and double couplers. The improvement of pullout strength by screw coupling was significant in a test group with BMD of more than 90 mg/ml (p < 0.01), but was not in the group with BMD less than 90 mg/ml (p = 0.55). These results suggest that the coupling of pedicle screws improves pullout strength; however, the effect tends to be less significant in severely osteoporotic spines.