Risk Factors for Adjacent Fractures After Cement-Augmented Thoracolumbar Pedicle Screw Instrumentation

The aim of our study was to identify factors that influence the occurrence of adjacent fractures in patients with cement-augmented pedicle screw instrumentation. Data were retrospectively collected from medical charts and operative reports for every surgery in which cement-augmented instrumentation was used in our hospital of 4 consecutive years. A total of 93 operations were included and examined for gender, age, T-score, number of fused segments, number of implanted screws, broken screws, loosening of screws, leakage and distribution pattern of cement, pre- and postoperative kyphosis angle, revision surgery and adjacent fractures in follow-up. Categorical data were compared using the χ test or by Fisher's exact test, as appropriate. Continuous variables conforming to a normal distribution were compared using Student's test. Otherwise the Mann-Whitney test was applied. A -value of