Aim: Aim of the study was to compare pullout resistance of pedicle screws after conventional and fluoroscopic computer-assisted implantation in the cadaveric thoracic and lumbar spine.
Methods: Pedicle screws were inserted in a total of 10 vertebrae of different human specimens: 10 screws were placed using conventional technique (group 1) and 10 screws were inserted with fluoroscopic computer-assisted system contralaterally (group 2). Then pedicle screws were evaluated for biomechanical axial pullout resistance.
Results: Mean pullout force was 232 N (range 60-600 N) in group 1 and 353 N (range 112-625 N) in group 2. The difference was significant (p=0,0425).
Conclusion: Fluoroscopic navigated implantation of pedicle screws increases the pullout strength in thoracic and lumbar cadaveric spines as compared with conventional methods.