Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38196725›Full record

ArticleJournal of spine surgery (Hong Kong)2023

The articular surface technique for lumbar pedicle screw placement: a 3D feasibility study.

Gautham Prabhakar, Trevor Wait, Aaron Kolar, Yolanda Maldonado, Christopher Chaput

Open access · diamondAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of spine surgery (Hong Kong), 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
0.3field-weighted citation impact, top 35% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. A retrospective audit of accuracy of thoracolumbosacral pedicle screw fixation.European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie · 2026
    Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Gautham PrabhakarDepartment of Orthopedics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
Trevor WaitDepartment of Orthopedics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
Aaron KolarDepartment of Orthopedics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
Yolanda MaldonadoDepartment of Orthopedics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
Christopher ChaputDepartment of Orthopedics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Traditional pedicle screws (TPSs) and cortical based trajectory pedicle screws each apply stability with fusions of the lumbar spine and have shown good success. However, the technical considerations of each technique imply complications of loosening and failure that either technique is uniquely prone to having. The current study proposes a new pedicle screw technique through the articular surface of the vertebral superior facet. It is hypothesized that this path will allow utilization of a larger screw that rivals that of the TPS technique, while also maintaining the high-density bone encountered in the cortical based trajectory technique. Methods: Retrospective review of 50 consecutive trauma patients that underwent lumbar computed tomography (CT) scans at a Level 1 Trauma Center in the age range 18-45. These scans were uploaded to Brainlab software for ideal starting point and trajectory mapping of pedicle screws coursing through each superior facet and pedicle of vertebral levels L1-S1 without cortical breach. Satisfactory pedicle screw variables consisted of a medial angle <10 degrees, screw length at least 30 mm, screw width at least 5.0 mm, and starting point measurements such as distance to the inferior articular surface and distance to the lateral articular surface. Results: A total of 600 virtual pedicle screws were placed, in which 525 were satisfactory and measured with the above variables. The pedicle widths were shown to significantly widen with lower-level vertebra in the lumbar spine. Approximately 72% of unsuccessful pedicle screws were placed in levels L1 and L2 allowing wider pedicle screws to be placed more further down the vertebral column. Conclusions: The articular surface technique (AST) for pedicle screw placement is a viable alternative in lumbar spinal fusions that offers decreased soft tissue dissection. However, the technique is likely better suited for lower lumbar fusions in L3 to S1.

Indexed as

corticalFusionpediclescrewspine

Identifiers

PMID38196725
PMCPMC10772663
OpenAlexW4390079856

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.