Mechanical assays were performed with screws of the USIS vertebral fixation system for the study of the influence of type of pilot hole preparation with probe or burr and tapping of the pilot hole pathway on pedicular screw pullout. The screws were inserted into wood, polyurethane and bovine bone test bodies. The pilot hole was prepared with probes and burrs of 3.5 mm. Three experimental groups were formed: I -drilling with a probe, II - drilling with a burr, and III - drilling with burr and tapping. After screw insertion into the test bodies, pullout assays were performed with a universal test machine. Increased screw pullout resistance was observed when the pilot hole was drilled with a probe, with a statistically significant difference compared to preparation with a burr and with a burr in combination with tapping. No difference in screw pullout resistance was observed with tapping of the pilot hole pathway.
Fracture fixation; Bone screws; Spine
