Impact of pedicle screw placement techniques on the cranial facet joint violation and related risk factors / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Facet joint is the important part of spinal biomechanical structures. The damage of facet joint will destroy the stability of spinal motion segments and accelerate the adjacent segments degeneration (ASD). The violation of cranial facet joint based on various screw insertion techniques is a common but easily overlooked factor in clinical application. The reduction of intra-operative cranial facet joint violation is essential for reduction of postoperative ASD. The rates of facet violation are related to screw insertion techniques. The insertion techniques, including robot-assisted guidance, computer-assistant navigation, and cortical bone trajectory, are used successfully well in protecting cranial facet joints, compared with the freehand pedicle screw placement technique, which has been widely utilized in clinical practice. However, the conventional X-ray guided screw insertion technique is associated with a higher rate of facet violation. The main reasons why different techniques lead to various rates of facet violation include various anatomical referenced landmarks during screw insertion, selection of assisted equipment for instruments, and resistance of soft tissues of the spine. In addition, the related risk factors, such as facet angle, screw insertion segments, lumbar degeneration, and learning curve effect, can also affect the rates of facet violation. In the present study, we compared the differences of facet joint violation when using various screw techniques, and summarized the causes of violations and related risk factor. The present review might provide references for surgeons regarding the decrease of cranial facet joint violation, optimization of insertion techniques and reduction of ASD.