A biomechanical cadaveric analysis of polymethylmethacrylate-augmented pedicle screw fixation

Instrumentation of the osteoporotic spine can be fraught with complications such as hardware failure. A cadaver study was performed to determine the biomechanical performance of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)-augmented pedicle screws.

Three osteoporotic human cadaveric specimens with a mean bone mineral density of 0.70 g/cm2 were used to evaluate the performance of a novel fenestrated bone tap in pedicle screw augmentation. On this device, tap threads serve a dual purpose in preventing backflow of cement toward neural elements while allowing for a custom form for subsequent screw placement. The tap was used to inject a mean volume of 3.7 ml PMMA/pedicle (range 2-8.0 ml PMMA/pedicle) followed by pedicle screw placement between L-5 and T-5, alternating between augmented and nonaugmented instrumentation. Axial pullout testing was then performed.

Pedicle screw pullout strength was increased in both primary and salvage procedures by 119% (p = 0.001) and 162% (p = 0.01), respectively, after PMMA augmentation. Additionally, the injected cement volumes were divided into two groups, a low-cement group (< or = 2.8 ml/pedicle) and a high-cement group (> or = 5.5 ml/pedicle). Interestingly, the pullout strength did not significantly change with increased cement usage between the two groups (p > 0.05 for all comparisons).

Polymethylmethacrylate-augmented pedicle screw fixation results in a significant increase in the axial pullout strength of augmented pedicle screws in both primary and revision procedures. This technique may be a valuable adjunct in cases in which bolstering of the screw-bone interface is necessary.