Methylmethacrylate as an adjunct in spinal instrumentation

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Spinal Deformity Correction

Background:

• Scoliosis treatment often involves Harrington-rod instrumentation.
• Hook dislodgement is a risk, especially with poor bone quality or patient non-compliance.
• Methylmethacrylate offers potential for enhanced fixation.

Observation:

• Sixteen scoliosis patients received Harrington-rod instrumentation with added methylmethacrylate at distraction sites.
• The fixation aimed to prevent hook dislodgement in challenging cases.
• Patient follow-up averaged 14.5 months (range: 6-38 months).

Findings:

• No instances of hook dislodgement were reported.
• No complications associated with methylmethacrylate use were observed.
• The combined technique demonstrated high safety and efficacy.

Implications:

• Methylmethacrylate supplementation is a viable strategy to improve Harrington-rod stability in scoliosis.
• This method may reduce revision surgeries and improve outcomes in high-risk patients.
• Further research could explore long-term outcomes and broader applications.