Proximal facet joint violation and breaches after percutaneous insertion of 311 lumbar pedicle screws using the pedicle axis fluoroscopic view

Introduction: Violation of the non-fused proximal facet joints (PFJ) above instrumentation might be associated with accelerated arthritis and adjacent-segment disease. Standard fluoroscopic views do not allow for an exclusion of PFJ violation and have been associated with high rates of this complica...

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Main Authors: Miltiadis Georgiopoulos, MD, PhD, Lior M. Elkaim, MD, Qais S. Alrashidi, MD, Oliver Lasry, MDCM, PhD, Jeff D. Golan, MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Brain and Spine
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772529425000931
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author Miltiadis Georgiopoulos, MD, PhD
Lior M. Elkaim, MD
Qais S. Alrashidi, MD
Oliver Lasry, MDCM, PhD
Jeff D. Golan, MD
author_facet Miltiadis Georgiopoulos, MD, PhD
Lior M. Elkaim, MD
Qais S. Alrashidi, MD
Oliver Lasry, MDCM, PhD
Jeff D. Golan, MD
author_sort Miltiadis Georgiopoulos, MD, PhD
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Violation of the non-fused proximal facet joints (PFJ) above instrumentation might be associated with accelerated arthritis and adjacent-segment disease. Standard fluoroscopic views do not allow for an exclusion of PFJ violation and have been associated with high rates of this complication. Research question: We adopted the use of the pedicle axis view (PAV) and investigated our results and potential correlations. Materials and methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of cases of percutaneous pedicle screw insertion in the lumbar spine, using the PAV. Various factors were investigated on postoperative CT scans, e.g. presence of PFJ violation, PFJ angles and analysis of breaches. Results: Overall, 311 screws were inserted using the PAV. The percentage of screws that resulted in PFJ violation was 3.7 % (n = 6). Higher PFJ angles played a role with an odds ratio of 1.21 (95 % CI: 1.03–1.43). The majority of the screws (68.1 %) did not cause cortical breaches. Regarding the rates of breaches, 14.9 % were minor cortical breaches and 11.6 % were moderate. 1.9 % of the screws caused severe breaches, but none of those were located medially or inferiorly. None of the observed breaches led to new symptoms or revision. Discussion and conclusion: The adoption of the fluoroscopic PAV for percutaneous lumbar pedicle screws led to low rates of proximal facet joint violation and severe breaches. Moreover, PFJ violation was more prevalent with higher PFJ angles and surgeons should remain vigilant in such cases. None of the observed breaches were clinically relevant.
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spelling doaj-art-d9616da3c58f4bc2b65493246067f5ac2025-08-20T03:09:19ZengElsevierBrain and Spine2772-52942025-01-01510427410.1016/j.bas.2025.104274Proximal facet joint violation and breaches after percutaneous insertion of 311 lumbar pedicle screws using the pedicle axis fluoroscopic viewMiltiadis Georgiopoulos, MD, PhD0Lior M. Elkaim, MD1Qais S. Alrashidi, MD2Oliver Lasry, MDCM, PhD3Jeff D. Golan, MD4Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Spine Surgery, Trauma & Orthopaedics, Swansea Bay University Health Board, Swansea, UKDepartment of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, CanadaDepartment of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, CanadaDepartment of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, CanadaDepartment of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Corresponding author. Division of Neurosurgery, Jewish General Hospital, 3755 Chem. de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada.Introduction: Violation of the non-fused proximal facet joints (PFJ) above instrumentation might be associated with accelerated arthritis and adjacent-segment disease. Standard fluoroscopic views do not allow for an exclusion of PFJ violation and have been associated with high rates of this complication. Research question: We adopted the use of the pedicle axis view (PAV) and investigated our results and potential correlations. Materials and methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of cases of percutaneous pedicle screw insertion in the lumbar spine, using the PAV. Various factors were investigated on postoperative CT scans, e.g. presence of PFJ violation, PFJ angles and analysis of breaches. Results: Overall, 311 screws were inserted using the PAV. The percentage of screws that resulted in PFJ violation was 3.7 % (n = 6). Higher PFJ angles played a role with an odds ratio of 1.21 (95 % CI: 1.03–1.43). The majority of the screws (68.1 %) did not cause cortical breaches. Regarding the rates of breaches, 14.9 % were minor cortical breaches and 11.6 % were moderate. 1.9 % of the screws caused severe breaches, but none of those were located medially or inferiorly. None of the observed breaches led to new symptoms or revision. Discussion and conclusion: The adoption of the fluoroscopic PAV for percutaneous lumbar pedicle screws led to low rates of proximal facet joint violation and severe breaches. Moreover, PFJ violation was more prevalent with higher PFJ angles and surgeons should remain vigilant in such cases. None of the observed breaches were clinically relevant.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772529425000931Minimally invasive surgeryFluoroscopySpineLumbar vertebraePedicle screwsFacet joint
spellingShingle Miltiadis Georgiopoulos, MD, PhD
Lior M. Elkaim, MD
Qais S. Alrashidi, MD
Oliver Lasry, MDCM, PhD
Jeff D. Golan, MD
Proximal facet joint violation and breaches after percutaneous insertion of 311 lumbar pedicle screws using the pedicle axis fluoroscopic view
Brain and Spine
Minimally invasive surgery
Fluoroscopy
Spine
Lumbar vertebrae
Pedicle screws
Facet joint
title Proximal facet joint violation and breaches after percutaneous insertion of 311 lumbar pedicle screws using the pedicle axis fluoroscopic view
title_full Proximal facet joint violation and breaches after percutaneous insertion of 311 lumbar pedicle screws using the pedicle axis fluoroscopic view
title_fullStr Proximal facet joint violation and breaches after percutaneous insertion of 311 lumbar pedicle screws using the pedicle axis fluoroscopic view
title_full_unstemmed Proximal facet joint violation and breaches after percutaneous insertion of 311 lumbar pedicle screws using the pedicle axis fluoroscopic view
title_short Proximal facet joint violation and breaches after percutaneous insertion of 311 lumbar pedicle screws using the pedicle axis fluoroscopic view
title_sort proximal facet joint violation and breaches after percutaneous insertion of 311 lumbar pedicle screws using the pedicle axis fluoroscopic view
topic Minimally invasive surgery
Fluoroscopy
Spine
Lumbar vertebrae
Pedicle screws
Facet joint
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772529425000931
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