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Use of Awl-Tipped Pedicle Screws Reduces Surgical Time
Steve Balsis1, Jack Mancuso1,2, Gemma S Krautzel1,2
1Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA.
Background:
A recent advance in spine surgery instrumentation is the awl-tipped screw, which allows for a reduction in the number of steps during a procedure. This innovation has the potential to decrease surgical time and affect overall efficiency. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the use of awl-tipped pedicle screws reduces surgical time and blood loss compared with the use of conventional pedicle screws.
Methods:
Using a retrospective records review, 410 patients who underwent open posterior lumbar spinal fusion surgery were analyzed. We compared 205 cases that used awl-tipped screws to 205 matched controls that used conventional pedicle screws that required tapping. The awl-tipped screw and control groups were matched for instrumented spine levels fused and were equivalent regarding other patient characteristics.
Results:
Surgeries with awl-tipped pedicle screws took less time (mean [SD] = 94.35 [24.09] minutes) than surgeries with conventional screws that required tapping (mean [SD] = 111.11 [33.00] minutes; t 408 = 5.87, P < 0.001). The amount of blood loss did not differ significantly between the 2 groups but trended in the expected direction.
Conclusion:
Clinicians who use pedicle screws in their practice should consider utilizing awl-tipped screws rather than traditional ones, as the reduced surgical time they can provide may translate into benefits for patients.
