Free Hand Pedicle Screw Placement in the Thoracic Spine: Is it Safe?

In Brief Study Design. A retrospective study. Objective. To evaluate the safety of a free hand technique of pedicle screw placement in the thoracic spine at a single institution over a 10-year experience. Summary of Background Data. Thoracic pedicle screw fixation techniques are still controversial for thoracic deformities because of possible complications including neurologic. Materials and Methods. Three hundred ninety-four consecutive patients who underwent posterior stabilization utilizing 3204 transpedicular thoracic screws by 2 surgeons from 1992 to 2002 were analyzed. The mean age was 27 + 10 years (range 5 + 3–87 + 0 years) at the time of surgery. Etiologic diagnoses were: scoliosis in 273, kyphosis in…