Design and Development of a Novel Expanding Pedicle Screw for Use in the Osteoporotic Lumbar Spine

Pedicle screws are commonly utilized in spinal surgery; however, traditional designs often do not provide adequate fixation in osteoporotic spines. The objective of this thesis was to develop a novel expanding screw for use in osteoporotic lumbar pedicles. Helical screws capable of expanding post insertion were built on a rapid prototype machine. A materials testing machine performed axial load to failure tests in both Sawbones and cadaveric specimens comparing the new design to traditional screws (rate = 10mm/min to 20 mm). Output parameters included yield load, ultimate load, stiffness, energy to failure and total energy. The expanding screw showed a 36% increase in total energy (p=0.02), but no other differences were identified. Based on this initial design, the expandable pedicle screws failed to demonstrate improved screw pullout; however, differences may be observed in other loading modes (i.e., toggle) and further design modifications and improvements in post-build machining may provide beneficial enhancements.

Name thesis:degree_name

M Sc

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Medical Biophysics

Grantor dc:publisher

The University of Western Ontario

Year dc:date.issued

2013

Author dc:creator

• Rasoulinejad, Parham

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Bailey, Chris

• spine
• biomechanics
• implant fixation
• mechanical testing
• pedicle screws
• osteoporosis
• pullout strength
• expanding screws

Language dc:language.iso

en_ca

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/36576

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:uwo.scholaris.ca:20.500.14721/36576