S-1 alar/iliac screw technique for spinopelvic fixation

Abstract

Spinopelvic fixation provides an important anchor for long fusions in spinal deformity surgery, and it is also used in the treatment of other spine pathologies. Iliac screws are known to sometimes require reoperation due to pain resulting from hardware prominence and skin injury. S-2 alar/iliac (S2AI) screws do not often require removal, but they may provide inadequate fixation in select cases. In this paper the authors describe a technique for S-1 alar/iliac screws that may be used independently or as a supplement to S2AI screws. A preliminary biomechanical analysis and 2 clinical case examples are also provided.

Keywords: AIIS = anterior inferior iliac spine; PSIS = posterior superior iliac spine; S1AI = S-1 alar/iliac; S2AI = S-2 alar/iliac; sacral; spine deformity; spinopelvic fixation; surgical technique; technical note.