[Internal fixation of thoracolumbar, lumbar and lumbosacral spine with internal fixators]

The report is a review of the literature on fully implantable transpedicular fixation device known under the general name internal fixator, and designed for short (one to three segments) internal fixation of the spine in various pathologies. The implants are found in a routine clinical use throughout many European countries and have become more familiar to spine surgeons in the U.S. The authors present a general description of the fixators, indications and contraindications to their implantation, the implantation technique and possibilities of intraoperative reposition of the spine. The advantages of usage of the fixators and the history of their development are presented.