Misplaced Cervical Screws Requiring Reoperation.

Study Design: A multicenter, retrospective case series.
Objective: In the past several years, screw fixation of the cervical spine has become commonplace. For the most part, this is a safe, low-risk procedure. While rare, screw backout or misplaced screws can lead to morbidity and increased costs. We report our experiences with this uncommon complication.
Methods: A multicenter, retrospective case series was undertaken at 23 institutions in the United States. Patients were included who underwent cervical spine surgery from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2011, and had misplacement of screws requiring reoperation. Institutional review board approval was obtained at all participating institutions, and detailed records were sent to a central data center.
Results: A total of 12 903 patients met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. There were 11 instances of screw backout requiring reoperation, for an incidence of 0.085%. There were 7 posterior procedures. Importantly, there were no changes in the health-related quality-of-life metrics due to this complication. There were no new neurologic deficits; a patient most often presented with pain, and misplacement was diagnosed on plain X-ray or computed tomography scan. The most common location for screw backout was C6 (36%).
Conclusions: This study represents the largest series to tabulate the incidence of misplacement of screws following cervical spine surgery, which led to revision procedures. The data suggest this is a rare event, despite the widespread use of cervical fixation. Patients suffering this complication can require revision, but do not usually suffer neurologic sequelae. These patients have increased cost of care. Meticulous technique and thorough knowledge of the relevant anatomy are the best means of preventing this complication.
Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Jeremy C. Peterson reports grants from AOSpine North America during the conduct of the study; Wellington K. Hsu reports grants from AOSpine North America during the conduct of the study, personal fees from Medtronic, personal fees from Stryker, personal fees from Bacterin, personal fees from Graftys, personal fees from Ceramtec, personal fees from Relievant, personal fees from Bioventus, personal fees from Globus, personal fees from SpineSmith, outside the submitted work; Michael G. Fehlings reports grants from AOSpine North America during the conduct of the study; Robert A. Hart reports grants from AOSpine North America during the conduct of the study, other from CSRS, other from ISSLS, other from ISSG Exec Board, personal fees from Depuy Synthes, personal fees from Globus, personal fees from Medtronic, other from Evans, Craven & Lackie, other from Benson, Bertoldo, Baker, & Carter, personal fees from Seaspine, personal fees from Depuy Synthes, other from Spine Connect, personal fees from Depuy Synthes, outside the submitted work; Alan S. Hilibrand reports grants from AOSpine North America during the conduct of the study, other from Amedica, Vertiflex, Benvenue, Lifespine, Paradigm Spine, PSD, Spinal Ventures, outside the submitted work, and in addition, Dr. Hilibrand has a patent Aesculap, Amedica, Biomet, Stryker, Alphatec, with royalties paid; Tony Tannoury reports grants from AOSpine North America during the conduct of the study; Thomas E. Mroz reports other from AO Spine during the conduct of the study, personal fees from Stryker, personal fees from Ceramtec, other from Pearl Diver, outside the submitted work; Bradford L. Currier reports grants from AOSpine North America during the conduct of the study, personal fees from DePuy Spine, personal fees from Stryker Spine, personal fees from Zimmer Spine, other from Zimmer Spine, other from Tenex, other from Spinology, other from LSRS, other from AOSNA, outside the submitted work; Jeremy L. Fogelson reports grants from AOSpine North America during the conduct of the study and Previous Consultant for one day to Depuy-Synthes March 2014; Bruce C. Jobse reports grants from AOSpine North America during the conduct of the study; Eric M. Massicotte reports grants from AOSpine North America during the conduct of the study, grants from Medtronic, Depuy-Synthes Spine Canada, personal fees from Watermark Consulting, grants from AOSpine North America, nonfinancial support from AOSpine North America, outside the submitted work; and K. Daniel Riew reports personal fees from AOSpine International, other from Global Spine Journal, other from Spine Journal, other from Neurosurgery, personal fees from Multiple Entities for defense, plaintiff, grants from AOSpine, grants from Cerapedics, grants from Medtronic, personal fees from AOSpine, personal fees from NASS, personal fees from Biomet, personal fees from Medtronic, nonfinancial support from Broadwater, outside the submitted work; Paul M. Arnold reports grants from AOSpine North America during the conduct of the study; other from Z-Plasty, other from Medtronic Sofamore Danek, other from Stryker Spine, other from FzioMed, other from AOSpine North America, other from Life Spine, other from Integra Life, other from Spine Wave, other from MIEMS, other from Cerapedics, other from AOSpine North America, outside the submitted work; Zachary A. Smith reports grants from AOSpine North America during the conduct of the study; Ahmad Nassr reports grants from AOSpine North America during the conduct of the study; Ra’Kerry K. Rahman reports grants from AOSpine North America during the conduct of the study; in addition, Dr. Rahman has a patent Deformity System & Pedicle Screws pending. Chadi A. Tannoury reports grants from AOSpine North America during the conduct of the study; Anthony F. De Giacomo Dr. De Giacomo reports grants from AOSpine North America during the conduct of the study.