Biomechanical comparison of pedicle screw augmented with different volumes of polymethylmethacrylate in osteoporotic and severely osteoporotic cadaveric lumbar vertebrae: an experimental study

Background ContextPolymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is widely used for pedicle screw augmentation in osteoporosis. Intriguingly, there have been no biomechanical comparisons of the stability of pedicle screws augmented with different volumes of PMMA or studies of the relationship between screw stability and volume of PMMA, especially in different degrees of osteoporosis.PurposeThe purposes of the study reported here were to compare screw stability by different volumes of PMMA augmentation, to analyze the relationship between screw stability and PMMA volume, and to make a preliminary determination of the optimum volume of PMMA augmentation for different degrees of osteoporosis.Study DesignThis study is a biomechanical comparison of pedicle screws augmented with various volumes of PMMA in cadaveric lumbar vertebrae.MethodsThirty-six pedicles from 18 osteoporotic lumbar vertebrae were randomly divided into groups A0 through A5, and 36 pedicles from 18 severely osteoporotic lumbar vertebrae were randomly divided into groups B0 through B5. A different volume of PMMA was injected into each one of groups A0 through A5 (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 mL, respectively) and into each one of groups B0 through B5 (0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 mL, respectively), and then pedicle screws were inserted in all vertebrae. After complete solidification of the PMMA, we examined pedicle X-rays, performed axial pullout tests, and determined the maximum axial pullout strength (Fmax) for all samples.ResultsNo PMMA was found around the screws in groups A0 and B0. In groups A1 to A5 and B1 to B5, screws were wrapped by gradually increasing amounts of PMMA. There was no PMMA leakage or screw malpositioning in any samples. The Fmax in groups A1 through A5 increased by 32.40%, 64.42%, 116.02%, 174.07%, and 207.42%, respectively, compared with that in group A0. There were no significant differences in Fmax between groups A0 and A1, A1 and A2, A2 and A3, A3 and A4, and A4 and A5 (p>.05), but there were significant differences in Fmax between any other two groups (p<.05). The Fmax in groups B1 through B5 increased by 23.48%, 48.40%, 106.60%, 134.73%, and 210.04%, respectively, compared with that in group B0. There were no significant differences in Fmax between groups B0 and B1, B0 and B2, B1 and B2, B2 and B3, B3 and B4 (p>.05), but there were significant differences in Fmax between any other two groups (p<.05). There was a significant positive correlation between Fmax and volume of PMMA in both osteoporotic and severely osteoporotic lumbar vertebrae (p<.05).ConclusionsPolymethylmethacrylate can significantly enhance stability of pedicle screws in both osteoporotic and severely osteoporotic lumbar vertebrae. There is a significant positive correlation between screw stability and volume of PMMA. Within a certain range, nevertheless, increasing the volume of PMMA does not significantly improve screw stability. We suggest that 1.5 and 3 mL, respectively, are the volumes of injected PMMA that will optimize pedicle screw stability in osteoporotic and severely osteoporotic lumbar vertebrae.