Optimal insertion positions of anterior–posterior orientation sacroiliac screw

Purpose To explore the optimal insertion positions of anterior–posterior orientation sacroiliac screw (AP-SIS). Methods Pelvic CT data of 80 healthy adults were employed to measure the anatomical parameters including the insertable ranges of S1 and S2, the length, width and height of the channel with three different horizontal and vertical anterior insertion points starting from the ilium-acetabular recess. To compare pelvic stability by replicating a type C Tile lesions, fifteen synthetic pelvises were fixed with an anterior plate and a posterior AP-SIS employing different anterior insertion points, the whole specimen displacements and shifts in the sacroiliac gap under a cyclic vertical load of 300 N in a biomechanical machine recorded. Results The posterior and anterior insertable ranges averaged 17.9 × 8.5mm 2 and 47.1 × 21.2 mm 2 , respectively. The channel lengths for three horizontal anterior insertion points gradually decreased from front to back with significant difference ( p 0.05). The displacements and shifts for three horizontal insertion points gradually increased from front to back ( p 0.05). Conclusion The posterior insertable range is small, where the center between adjacent nerve roots (foramens) is the optimal posterior insertion point. The anterior insertable range is large, where the iliac-acetabular recess is the optimal anterior insertion point for S1 and S2, providing the longest channel and best stability.