Easy method to simplify “freehand” subaxial cervical pedicle screw insertion

STUDY DESIGN: Technical note. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to check out safety and rationality of standardized and fast tricks to select trajectory of subaxial cervical pedicle screw (SCPS) insertion, based on simple angles to bony landmarks. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Stage 1 – Computed tomography (CT)-morphometric analysis of C3–C7 vertebrae of ten patients with cervical degenerative diseases. Stage 2 – SCPS insertion in 6 cadavers, according to the developed technique (59 pedicle screws). Stage 3 – SCPS insertion in 6 patients, according to the developed technique (32 pedicle screws). RESULTS: CT-morphometric analysis showed that the average length of C3–C7 pedicle channels was 32 mm, the average angle between a pedicle axis and an axis of contralateral lamina - 180°, the average angle between a pedicle axis and plane of a posterior surface of a lateral mass amounted to 90° and the coordinates of an optimal entry point – 2 mm from a lateral edge and 2 mm from an upper edge of the lateral mass posterior surface. During the cadaveric study, 39 screws had a satisfactory position (66.1%), 7 screws permissible (11.9%), and 13 screws unacceptable (22%). During the clinical study, 26 screws (81.25%) had satisfactory position, 4 (12.5%) had permissible position, and 2 (6.25%) unacceptable position. CONCLUSION: Developed and clinically approved a method for simplicity SCPS insertion is relatively safe and cheap. No doubt, it requires further investigation, but the results of primary analysis allow us to recommend it to wide practical application.