The effect of screw diameter to pedicle size ratio on toggling and pullout strength of pedicle screws
Spinal stabilization with pedicle screws is recommended for various spinal disorders such as trauma, deformity, and tumor. The stabilization performance of the pedicle screw is affected by toggling. Toggling of the pedicle screws is a cycling loading mechanism that impacts the fixation capacity of the screw and leads to loosening or failure of the screw. The selection of the pedicle screws is one of the biggest challenges in the clinic. An undersized screw can decrease the pull-out strength, increasing the probability of failure due to loosening. Conversely, an oversized pedicle screw can reduce the toggling force but also can compromise the stability of the pedicle by breaking it. The results of this study aim to determine the best pedicle screw diameter to reduce toggling force compared to pedicle diameter.