Specifying the Starting Point for S1 Iliosacral Screw Placement in the Dysmorphic Sacrum

BACKGROUND: Sacral dysmorphism is not uncommon and complicates S1 iliosacral screw placement partially because of the difficulty of determining the starting point accurately on the sacral lateral view. We propose a method of specifying the starting point. METHODS: The starting point for the S1 iliosacral screw into the dysmorphic sacrum was specifically set at a point where the ossification of the S1/S2 intervertebral disc (OSID) intersected the posterior vertebral cortical line (PVCL) on the sacral lateral view, followed by guidewire manipulation and screw placement on the pelvic outlet and inlet views. Computer-simulated virtual surgical procedures based on pelvic computed tomography (CT) data on 95 dysmorphic sacra were performed to determine whether the starting point was below the iliac cortical density (ICD) and in the S1 oblique osseous corridor and to evaluate the accuracy of screw placement (with 1 screw being used, in the left hemipelvis). Surgical procedures on 17 patients were performed to verify the visibility of the OSID and PVCL, to check the location of the starting point relative to the ICD, and to validate the screw placement safety as demonstrated with postoperative CT scans. RESULTS: In the virtual surgical procedures, the starting point was consistently below the ICD and in the oblique osseous corridor in all patients and all screws were Grade 1. In the clinical surgical procedures, the OSID and PVCL were consistently visible and the starting point was always below the ICD in all patients; overall, 21 S1 iliosacral screws were placed in these 17 patients without malpositioning or iatrogenic injury. CONCLUSIONS: On the lateral view of the dysmorphic sacrum, the OSID and PVCL are visible and intersect at a point that is consistently below the ICD and in the oblique osseous corridor, and thus they can be used to identify the starting point. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.