Downward penetrating endplate screw technique under O-arm navigation posterior fusion in patients with osteoporotic vertebral body fractures associated with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis

BACKGROUND: A downward penetrating endplate screw (PES) technique combined with caudal anchor screws inserted in the upward direction under O-arm navigation (i.e., crossing screw technique) avoided screw backout and proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) in three patients with osteoporotic vertebral body fractures and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). METHODS: The PES techniques were utilized for patients with T12 (one patient) and L1 (two patients) spontaneous fusion across the targeted vertebrae, with minimal damage to the involved endplates/intervertebral discs. The average number of instrumented vertebrae was 5.3. RESULTS: There were no perioperative complications over the mean follow-up period of 28.7 months; no screw loosening, and no PJK. CONCLUSION: The PES technique prevented screw backout, and PJK in three patients with lumbar osteoporotic vertebral fractures and DISH.