Anatomical conditions and patient-specific locked navigation templates for TSS placement
Authors: Wu Chao , deng jiayan , pan jian , li tao , Tan Lun 
Published: March 2020

Objective To analyse the anatomical conditions of transverse sacroiliac screws about the S1 and S2 segments in order to develop and validate a locked navigational template for transverse sacroiliac screw placement. Methods The CT data of 90 normal sacra were analysed. The long axis, short axis and lengths of transverse sacroiliac screw cancellous corridors were measured through 3D modelling. A patient-specific locked navigation template based on simulated screws was designed and 3D printed and then used to assist in transverse sacroiliac screw placement. The operative time, intraoperative blood loss, incision length, and radiation times were recorded. The Matta criteria and grading score were evaluated. The entry point deviation of the actual screw placement relative to the simulated screw placement was measured, and whether the whole screw was in the cancellous corridor was observed.Results S1 screws with a diameter of 7.3 mm could be inserted into 69 pelvises, and S2 screws could be inserted in all pelvises. The S1 cancellous corridor had a long axis of 25.44±3.32 mm in males and 22.91±2.46 mm in females, a short axis of 14.21±2.19 mm in males and 12.15±3.22 mm in females, a corridor length of 153.07±11.99 mm in males and 151.11±8.73 mm in females, and a proportional position of the optimal entry point in the long axis of the cancellous corridor of 35.96±10.31% in males and 33.28±7.2% in females. There were significant differences in the corridor long axis and corridor short axis between sexes (p<0.05), and there were no significant differences in corridor length and proportional position of the optimal entry point in the long axis of the cancellous corridor between sexes (p>0.05). The S2 cancellous corridor had a long axis of 17.58±2.36 mm in males and 16±2.64 mm in females, a short axis of 14.21±2.19 mm in males and 13.14±2.2 mm in females, a corridor length of 129.95±0.89 mm in males and 136.5±7.96 mm in females, and a proportional position of the optimal entry point in the long axis of the cancellous corridor of 46.77±9.02% in males and 42.25±11.95% in females. There were significant differences in the long axis, short axis and corridor length (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the proportional position of the optimal entry point in the long axis of the cancellous corridor (p>0.05). A total of 20 transversal sacroiliac screws were successfully inserted into 10 patients with the assistance of locked navigation templates. Nineteen screws were grade 0, 1 screw was grade 1, and there were no postoperative complications of infection or nerve root injury. All screw entry point deviations were shorter than the short axis of the cancellous corridor, and all screws were located completely within the cancellous corridor.Conclusion Approximately 76% of males and females can accommodate screws with diameters of 7.3 mm in S1, and all persons can accommodate the same screw in S2. From the standard lateral perspective of the sacrum, the optimal entry point of the transverse screw is in the first 1/3 of the cancellous corridor for S1 and the centre of the cancellous corridor for S2. The patient-specific locked navigation template assisted in transverse sacroiliac screw placement with little trauma and fluoroscopy radiation and secure screw placement.