An Innovative Universal Screw Removal Instrument

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To present the clinical benefits of an instrument designed to facilitate removal of polyaxial screws during revision surgery. METHODS: All polyaxial screws can be removed without additional materials or a large amount of debridement using our newly designed instrument. Forty-two screws were removed from five patients without any complications using this instrument. RESULTS: We removed the cap screws and rods from the 42 polyaxial screws in five patients and made them monoaxial using the new screw removal apparatus. The screws and rods were removed quickly in a minimally invasive way with no complications. No damage to the pedicle or surrounding soft tissue occurred during screw removal. No neurogenic changes developed during revision surgery after changing the screws. CONCLUSION: This newly designed screw removal instrument was used safely and effectively to remove all polyaxial and monoaxial pedicle screws.