Bicortical Laminar Screws for Posterior Fixation of Subaxial Cervical Spine: A Radiologic Analysis With Computed Tomography Images

Study Design: Retrospective radiological analysis. Objectives: Translaminar screw (TLS) placement is one of the fixation techniques in the subaxial cervical spine. However, it can be difficult to use in small diameter of the lamina. This study proposed a novel bicortical laminar screw (BLS) and analyzed the related parameters using computed tomography (CT). Methods: Cervical CT images taken at our institution from January 2013 to March 2017 were used for measurement. On the axial images, the maximum screw length (MSL) and trajectory angle (TA) of BLS and TLS were measured, together with the distance from the midline (DM) to the BLS entry point and the lamina width (LW). On the parasagittal images, the height of the lamina (LH) was measured. Results: MSL of BLS and TLS were 21.00 and 20.97 mm, 19.02 and 20.91 mm, 18.45 and 21.01 mm, and 20.00 and 21.01 mm in C3, C4, C5, and C6, respectively. TA of the BLS and TLS were 21.24 degrees and 34.90 degrees, 19.05 degrees and 34.22 degrees, 18.65 degrees and 33.61 degrees, and 18.30 degrees and 34.51 degrees at C3, C4, C5, and C6, respectively. DM were 6.44, 5.77, 5.68, and 6.03 at C3, C4, C5, and C6, respectively. LW and LH were 3.52 and 12.44 mm, 2.87 and 12.49 mm, 2.76 and 12.42 mm, and 3.18 and 13.30 mm at C3, C4, C5, and C6, respectively. Conclusion: We suggest that BLS fixation is a feasible alternative option for posterior fixation to the lamina of the subaxial cervical spine. It may be especially useful when pedicle screw, lateral mass screw, and TLS are not appropriate.

Automated summary

This study proposed a novel bicortical laminar screw (BLS) and analyzed its related parameters using CT. The results indicate that BLS fixation is a feasible alternative option for posterior fixation in the subaxial cervical spine.