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SPINAL
INSTRUMENTATION:
Hooks - Rods - Screws - and Cable
By:
Susan Spinasanta
Staff Writer
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When
is instrumentation used?
Hooks,
rods, screws, and cable are types of medically designed
implants used during instrumentation procedures. Trauma,
deformity, and instability may be treated using spinal
instrumentation.
Often,
these implants are combined during a procedure - for
example, screws may be used to anchor rods in place.
Prior to surgery, the spine specialist determines
what implants are appropriate based on the patient's
deformity (e.g. scoliosis), anatomy, and the corrective
procedure to be performed.
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What
are implants made of?
Like
other types of implants used in spinal instrumentation,
these are made from medical grade stainless steel, Titanium,
or Titanium-alloy, all of which are body-friendly. Implants
made from Titanium are highly resistant to corrosion and
fatigue and are MRI compatible.
Hooks
There
are many types of hooks - such as pedicle, sublaminar, or
infralaminar hooks - named to describe where they anchor
on the spine. For example, a pedicle hook is designed to
anchor at a vertebral pedicle. Sublaminar means above the
lamina and infralaminar - below the lamina. Hooks may be
used alone or to secure rods or cable in place.
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Rods
Some rods are rounded and smooth, others are threaded.
Rods are usually used in pairs and are available in
many pre-cut lengths. In some cases, the spine specialist
will modify the length to fit the patient's anatomy,
which may include contouring the rod to match the
curve of the spine. The instrumentation system provides
the surgeon with specialized tools to cut and contour
rods.
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Screws
Screws are used to secure plates and rods in place
and to compress bony structures together (e.g. fracture).
Bone screws are available in different lengths, widths,
and at fixed or variable angles.
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Cable
Medical
grade cable is flexible and strong. The surgeon can
sequentially tighten (or loosen) the cable to apply
a precise amount of tension to a particular area of
the spine. Special tools assist the surgeon to measure
and apply tension, cut, and crimp the cable prior
to locking into place.
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Cervical
Plates: Providing Neck Stability Using Spinal Instrumentation
Pedicle
Screws
Surgical
Technique for Anterior Thoracoscopic Correction of Idiopathic
Scoliosis
A
Patient's Guide to Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Spinal Surgery(VATS)
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