Thoracic pedicle classification determined by inner cortical width of pedicles on computed tomography images: its clinical significance for posterior vertebral column resection to treat rigid and severe spinal deformities—a retrospective review of cases

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Tao Li¹  Zhi Zhao¹  Ni Bi¹  Yingsong Wang¹  Jingming Xie¹  Ying Zhang¹ 

[1] Department of Orthopaedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, #374 Dianmian Road, Kunming, Yunnan Province 650101, P.R. China

关键词: Vertebral column resection;    Posterior approach;    Computed tomography;    Pedicle;    Thoracic vertebrae;    Scoliosis;   

Others  :  1122207
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2474-15-278

 received in 2014-01-01, accepted in 2014-07-30,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

Posterior vertebral column resection (PVCR) is an effective alternative for treating rigid and severe spinal deformities. Accurate placement of pedicle screws, especially apically, is crucial. As morphologic evaluations of thoracic pedicles have not provided objective criteria, we propose a thoracic pedicle classification for treating rigid and severe spinal deformities.

Methods

A consecutive series of 56 patients with severe and rigid spinal deformities who underwent PVCR at a single institution were reviewed retrospectively. Altogether, 1098 screws were inserted into thoracic pedicles at T2-T12. Based on the inner cortical width of the thoracic pedicles, the patients were divided into four groups: group 1 (0–1.0 mm), group 2 (1.1–2.0 mm), group 3 (2.1–3.0 mm), group 4 (≥3.1 mm). The proportion of screws accurately inserted in thoracic pedicles for each group was calculated. Statistical analysis was also performed regarding types of thoracic pedicles classified by Lenke et al. (SPINE 35:1836-1842, 2010) using a morphological method.

Results

There were statistically significant differences in the rates of screws inserted in thoracic pedicles between the groups (P < 0.008) except groups 3 and 4 (P > 0.008), which were then combined. The accuracies for the three new groups were 35.05%, 65.34%, and 88.32%, respectively, with statistically significant differences between the groups (P < 0.017). Rates of screws inserted in thoracic pedicles classified by Lenke et al. (SPINE 35:1836-1842, 2010) were 82.31%, 83.40%, 80.00%, and 30.28% for types A, B, C, and D, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.008) between these types except between type D and the other three types (P < 0.008).

Conclusions

The inner cortical width of thoracic pedicles is the sole factor crucial for accurate placement of thoracic pedicle screws. We propose a computed tomography-based classification of the pedicle’s inner cortical width: type I thoracic pedicle: absent channel, inner cortical width of 0–1 mm; type II: presence of a channel of which type IIa has an inner cortical width of 1.1–2.0 mm and type IIb a width of ≥2.1 mm. The proposed classification can help surgeons predict whether screws can be inserted into the thoracic pedicle, thus guiding instrumentation when PVCR is performed.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Zhang et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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