FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to surgical devices; and in particular, to systems and methods for pedicle screw assemblies.

BACKGROUND

Mechanical instability of the spine can result from many causes, including degenerative disease, trauma, infection, spinal deformity, or neoplastic processes. Left untreated, such spinal instability can result in pain, neurological compromise, and immobility. Spinal instability is treated surgically via fixation and fusion of the unstable spinal levels. Fixation of the spine is accomplished posteriorly through the insertion of screws through the vertebral pedicles, which are then segmentally connected by metal rods.

For patients undergoing spinal fixation and fusion surgery, pedicle screws are considered a standard of care. One of the most common complications associated with pedicle screw fixation, especially in long fixation constructs, is screw failure and pull-out with resultant pseudarthrosis or adjacent segment disease. Existing strategies for increasing the axial resistance required to pull out a pedicle screw include increased screw sizes, alternative core shapes, alternative thread shapes, and bone-cement augmentation. Each of these strategies comes with significant limitations, and none have proven to be a clinically reliable solution to the problem of pedicle screw failure.

It is with these observations in mind, among others, that various aspects of the present disclosure were conceived and developed.

