Thoracic pedicle screw insertion in Asian cadaveric specimen: does radiological pedicle profile affect outcome?
Plain radiographic thoracic pedicle morphometry has an influence on the outcome of thoracic pedicle screw insertion in Asian cadavers. Pedicle width<4.0 mm is associated with higher risk of pedicle perforation. This critical value corresponds to a PWBW ratio of 0.3. Identification of such pedicle profile warrants full evaluation of the morphometry of the thoracic pedicles and possibly extra-pedicular techniques should be employed to avert the risk of critical pedicle perforation.
In this large retrospective study, transfusion of non-sex-matched RBCs was associated with increased mortality. In addition, in patients receiving small amounts of blood, leukocyte depletion of RBCs had a beneficial effect on patient survival.