Insert Pedicle Screws With Washers (Only For Anterior Approach) - Synthes USS Small Stature/Paediatric Spine System Manual

Insert Pedicle Screws with Washers
(Only for Anterior Approach)
Flat (1) and angled (2) washers can be used with anterior
fixation constructs to distribute the force of the screw
over the bone. The angled washers form a fixed angle
with the screw.
1 2
1. Prepare screw hole and determine
screw length
Determine the entry point for the screw, preferably at
the junction of the pedicle and the vertebral body.
Align the pedicle awl (1) (388.550 or 388.551) perpen-
dicular to the contralateral side, and prepare the screw
1 2 3
hole. Enlarge the screw hole using the pedicle probe (2)
(388.538, 388.539 or 388.540) until it penetrates the
contralateral cortex.
Determine the length of the pedicle screw using the
depth gauge for pedicle screw (357.789) (3).
2a. Insert flat washer and screw
Place a flat washer with the convex side facing down
onto the concavity of the vertebral body.
Pick up a dual-opening pedicle screw as described on
page 3. Insert the pedicle screw into the prepared verte-
bral body until the screw head is well seated. To release
the stick from the handle, press the release button on
the handle.
6 DePuy Synthes USS™ Small Stature/Paediatric Spine System Surgical Technique