Morphometric Study of the Pedicles of Thoracic and Lumbar Vertebrae in Koreans

Abstract

The results suggest that using 6-mm screws can violate the cortex of the pedicles in a significant number of levels of the upper lumbar spine. Using a screw longer than 40 mm is dangerous in the lower thoracic spine of a Korean. A statistical difference exists between the transverse diameter of the pedicles of Westerners and Koreans.