Novel Technique for Sacral Alar-Iliac (S2AI) Fixation

Area of Science:

• Spine surgery
• Orthopedic surgery
• Surgical techniques

Background:

• Traditional iliac bolts for pelvic fixation in lumbosacral fusion are associated with higher rates of hardware failure and revision surgery.
• Sacral alar-iliac (S2AI) screws have emerged as an alternative with promising results.
• Previous studies suggest potential benefits of S2AI screws in reducing complications like pseudoarthrosis and arthritis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the surgical technique and rationale for placing sacral alar-iliac (S2AI) screws.
• To provide a procedural guide for S2AI screw placement in pelvic arthrodesis.
• To support osseous lumbosacral fusion using S2AI screws.

Main Methods:

• A case video illustrating the operative technique for S2AI screw placement.
• Detailed description of surgical maneuvers involved in S2AI screw insertion.
• Demonstration of S2AI-mediated pelvic fixation in a patient undergoing lumbosacral fusion.

Main Results:

• Successful pelvic fixation was achieved in one patient utilizing the S2AI screw technique.
• The procedure aided in achieving osseous lumbosacral fusion.
• No need for subcutaneous tissue dissection was observed during the S2AI screw placement.

Conclusions:

• The S2AI screw technique provides effective pelvic fixation for lumbosacral fusion.
• This method offers improved outcomes compared to traditional iliac bolts.
• The technique simplifies the surgical approach by avoiding extensive subcutaneous dissection.