INDICATIONS FOR PEDICLE FIXATION - RESULTS OF NASS SRS FACULTY QUESTIONNAIRE/

Study Design. The faculty of the North American Spine Society and Scol iosis Research Society pedicle fixation workshop were questioned about their use of pedicle screw implants for fixation of the spine. Object ives. This study ascertained which faculty members used pedicle implan ts given specific clinical scenarios and analyzed the data for trends and consensus. Summary of Background Data. For the past 4 years, the N orth American Spine Society in conjunction with the Scoliosis Research Society has sponsored a course on pedicle fixation of the spine. Duri ng these courses, techniques of pedicle fixation have been discussed. The indications, however, for pedicle fixation have remained controver sial, even among the course faculty. Methods. A questionnaire was deve loped with 20 clinical scenarios, and the faculty were asked whether t hey would use pedicle implants as part of their surgical treatment. Re sults. Thirty-eight of 45 (84%) questionnaires have been received and analyzed. For most scenarios, there was statistically significant cons ensus among the faculty that they would use a pedicle implant. There w as statistically significant consensus that the faculty would not use pedicle implants for thoracic fractures or adolescent idiopathic scoli osis. Discussion. This study is useful in assessing pedicle implant us age in our community but should not be used as a guide for their indic ations and contraindications.