Surgical Technique USS™ Universal Spine System DePuy Synthes 5
Pedicle screw positioning with washers
(anterior instrumentation only)
Flat (1) and angled (2) washers can be used with anterior
fixation constructs to distribute the force of the screw
over the bone. The angled washers form a fixed angle
with the screw.
1. Open pedicle and determine screw
length
Determine the entry point for the screw, preferably at
the junction of the pedicle and the vertebral body.
Use the Pedicle Awl (1) (388.550) to prepare the screw
hole, directing it perpendicularly to the contralateral
side. Enlarge the screw hole using the USS Pedicle Probe
(2) (388.540), until it penetrates the contralateral cortex.
Determine the length of the pedicle screw using the
Depth Gauge for Screws (3) (319.100). The actual length
of the screw is chosen 5 mm longer than measured in
order to enable the positioning of a washer.
2a. Insert screw and flat washer
Place flat washers with the convex side down onto the
concavity of the vertebral body.
Pick up a side-opening pedicle screw as described on
page 3. Insert the pedicle screw into the prepared verte-
bral body until the screw head is well seated. To disas-
semble the stick from the handle press the button on
the handle.
1
1
2
3
2