Abstract
Background and objectives :In various lesions of spinal column such as trauma, degenerative diseases, spinal column infection, and tumors we may need spinal fusion. We can use various instruments such as pedicle screws for fusion. This instrument has advantage and disadvantage. The purpose of this study was to determine the results and complications of pedicle screw instrumentation in spinal fusion.
Materials and methods: In the past 2.5 years, 35 patients were operated through this instrument in Tabriz Shohada hospital and evaluated regarding to age, sex, the cause of surgery, early and the late complications occurred. The result of fusion were determined.
Results: From 35 patients there were 19 women and 16 men and the mean age was 38.2 years old. The highest incidence use of pedicle screw was in the treatment of spondylolysthesis and traumatic spinal column lesions (80%). The lumbar spine was the common site of spinal column involvement (51%). Appropriate fusion was seen in 94.2% out of cases. In these patients the early and late complications, superficial and deep wound infections, neurological deficits and instrument failure were assessed. Instrument failure was observed in two patients.
Conclusion: the use of pedicle screw fixation successfully combines the goal of solid fusion with the requirement of correcting spinal alignment and the result is better than other spinal fusion techniques. It also enables short segment fusion. Use of appropriate technique and surgeon’s increasing experience may reduce the complications.