• Timo Michael Heintel, Stefan Dannigkeit, Annabel Fenwick, Martin Cornelius Jordan, Hendrik Jansen, Fabian Gilbert, and Rainer Meffert.
• Department of Trauma, Hand, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Oberduerrbacher Str. 6, 97080, Würzburg, Germany. heintel_t@ukw.de.
• Eur Spine J. 2017 May 1; 26 (5): 1515-1524.

Study DesignProspective analysis of patients who underwent minimally invasive posterior instrumentation.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of minimally invasive pedicle screw placement in patients with unstable thoracic and lumbar spine fractures using the conventional fluoroscopy technique. Although wound infection, haematoma, and new neurological deficit due to screw malplacement remain a common source of morbidity, estimates of their rates of occurrence remain relatively limited.Methods2052 percutaneous pedicle screws in 433 consecutive patients were evaluated. The accuracy of pedicle screw placement was based on evaluation of axial 3-mm slice computed tomography scans. Morbidity and mortality data were collected prospectively.ResultsA total of 2029 of 2052 screws (99%) had a good or excellent position. 5 screws (0.2%) showed a higher grade violation of the medial pedicle wall. Seven patients (1.8%) needed revision due to screw malposition (3 pat.), surgical site infection, postoperative haematoma, implant failure (2 pat.), and technical difficulties.ConclusionsMinimally invasive transpedicular instrumentation is an accurate, reliable, and safe procedure to treat thoracic and lumbar spine fractures.

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