Risk Factors Associated with the Halo Phenomenon after Lumbar Fusion Surgery and its Clinical Significance

Article information

Asian Spine J. 2008;2(1):22-26
Publication date (electronic) : 2008 June 30
doi : https://doi.org/10.4184/asj.2008.2.1.22
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Yonsei University Medical College, Seoul, Korea.
Corresponding author: Seong-Hwan Moon, MD. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 134 Seodaemunku, Shinchondong, Seoul, Korea. Tel: +82-2-2228-2188, Fax: +82-2-363-1139, shmoon@yuhs.ac

Abstract

Study Design

Retrospective study.

Purpose

First, to examine the association between bone mineral density (BMD) and the halo phenomenon, and second, to investigate risk factors predisposing to the halo phenomenon and its correlation with clinical outcomes.

Overview of Literature

The few in vivo studies regarding the relationship between pedicle screw stability and BMD have shown conflicting results.

Methods

Forty-four female patients who underwent spine fusion surgery due to spinal stenosis were included in this study. The halo phenomenon and fusion state were evaluated through plain radiographs performed immediately after surgery and through the final outpatient follow-up examination. BMD, osteoarthritis grade in the hip and knee joints, and surgical outcome were also evaluated.

Results

BMD was not related to the halo phenomenon, but age, absence of osteoarthritis in the knee, and non-union state were found to be significant risk factors for the halo phenomenon. However, the radiological halo phenomenon did not correlate with clinical outcome (visual analogue scale for back pain and leg pain).

Conclusions

The halo phenomenon is a simple phenomenon that can develop during follow-up after pedicle screw fixation. It does not influence clinical outcomes, and thus it is thought that hydroxyapatite coating screws, expandable screws, cement augmentation, and additional surgeries are not required, if their purpose is to prevent the halo phenomenon.

Introduction

Pedicle screw fixation is a basic method for thoracolumbar fixation. Pedicle screws provide stability, but they do not sacrifice normal spinal segments by fixating a single segment. Furthermore, firm fixation shows strong resistance to loading from all directions1-4. However, despite such advantages, implant failure has been reported with the use of pedicle screws, including screw bending, breakage, and loosening (radiolucency in the bone-screw interface). According to a previous study, the incidence of screw loosening and breakage were between 0.6% and 25% and between 0.6% and 11%, respectively5. Presently, due to the increase in pedicle screw diameter and shank tapering, the incidence of bending and breakage are low6,7. However, problems with internal fixators related to screw loosening continue to occur8.

The stability of pedicle screws is primarily dependent on the bone-screw interface, and loosening is induced by cyclic caudo-cephalad toggling acting on the bone-screw interface when axial compression is transmitted through metal plates or rods6,9. In cases where pedicle screws cannot be fixated adequately to the vertebral body through the pedicles, loosening of screws may occur. Therefore, evaluation of the stability of the bone-screw interface is important in order to predict the development of screw loosening. If surgeons could predict the development of screw loosening and anticipate the potential risks of loss of correction due to it, supplementary augmentation could be used, and it could be managed more carefully in the postoperative stage.

Previous in vitro studies have shown that the bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar vertebral body has an effect on the stability of the pedicle screws10-13. Wittenberg et al.14 studied cadaveric lumbar vertebral bodies and reported that, in physiological loading, screw loosening developed in vertebrae with BMD lower than 74±17 mg/cc. Yamagata et al.15, have reported that there is a positive correlation between the BMD and the pullout strength of pedicle screws. However, there have been few studies regarding the association between BMD and the halo phenomenon. Therefore, the purpose of our study was first to examine the association between BMD and the halo phenomenon, and second to investigate the risk factors for the halo phenomenon, and its correlation with clinical outcomes.

Materials and Methods

This study was performed on 44 female patients older than 50 years of age who visited our hospital for symptomatic spinal stenosis. The mean patient age at the time of surgery was 61.3 years (range, 50~79 years). Twenty-six patients had only spinal stenosis, and 18 patients had spinal stenosis with spondylolisthesis. All patients underwent laminectomy, facetectomy, and segmental spinal instrumentation using the Diapason pedicle screw system and posterolateral fusion using an auto-bone graft. Resected laminar bone or autoiliac bone was used as an autogenous bone graft. Thirty-four cases were monosegmental, and ten cases were bisegmental. The postoperative follow-up period ranged from 24 months to 43 months.

The halo phenomenon and fusion state were evaluated through plain radiographs performed immediately after surgery and through the final outpatient follow-up examination. Radiographic fusion patterns were classified into four grades by Lenke et al.16, definite solid, possibly solid, probably not solid, and definitely not solid. The grades "definite" and "possibly solid" were considered fusion states, and the criteria of "probably not solid" and "definitely not solid" were designated as non-union. In addition, for the hip and knee joint, the grade of osteoarthritis was evaluated by taking plain radiographs at the time of surgery according to the Kellgren-Lawrence grade17. Radiological analysis was performed by two orthopedic surgeons who were unaware of this study.

In all patients, BMD was measured prior to surgery using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) (Hologic QDR-4500 & Hologic Delthi, Waltham, MA, USA). Measurements were obtained in the proximal femur and lumbar vertebral body. Kim & Kim's criteria and visual analogue scale (VAS) were used for assessment of clinical results, both back pain and leg pain18,19.

1. Statistical analysis

All data were analyzed using the SPSS 12.0.1 statistics package (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The Mann-Whitney test was used for comparing BMD between the halo phenomenon and non-halo phenomenon groups.

In halo phenomenon cases with more than 2 pedicle screws, the odds ratio for each risk factor was calculated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. This categorical halo phenomenon (more than 2 pedicle screws or not) was used as a dependent variable. Age, weight, BMD, VAS for back pain, VAS for leg pain, and fusion state were assigned as continuous independent co-variates. Menopause, osteoarthritis in the knee, and fusion state (non-union) were assigned as categorical, independent co-variates.

The correlation between the radiological halo phenomenon and the VAS for leg and back pain was analyzed using a chi-square test. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

1. Bone mineral density

In terms of BMD, fifteen patients (36%) had osteoporosis (T score <-2.5), and 21 patients (47%) had osteopenia, which was defined as a T score between -1.0 and -2.5. Eight patients (18%) showed normal BMD. In all patients, the mean (SD) BMD value of the lumbar vertebra was 0.839 (0.207) g/cm2, and that of the proximal femur was 0.404 (0.150) g/cm2.

2. Clinical assessment

The clinical results were satisfactory (good or fair) in forty patients (90%), based on Kim and Kim's criteria. In the assessment of VAS for leg pain, the mean postoperative VAS at last follow-up was much lower than the mean preoperative VAS; the mean postoperative VAS (mm) was 8, while the mean preoperative VAS (mm) was 78. The VAS for back pain was also improved from 43 preoperatively to 34 postoperatively.

3. Radiological assessment

In the assessment of osteoarthritis of the knee and hip joints, 19 patients had osteoarthritis of the knee joint (Kellgren-Lawrence grade II, III, or IV), and no patients had osteoarthritis of the hip joint. At last follow-up, radiological assessment showed "definitely" or "probably solid fusion mass" in 37 patients (84%). There was "probably not solid fusion mass" without implant failure in 7 patients (16%). The halo phenomenon was observed in at least one pedicle screw in 21 patients (48%), among which 13 patients had the phenomenon in more than 2 pedicle screws and 3 patients had it in all pedicle screws (Figs. 1 and 2). There were no screw or rod breakages, and only one patient developed progressive kyphosis due to loosening without screw breakage.

Fig. 1

Plain radiographs show the halo phenomenon (radiolucent line around the pedicle screws).

Fig. 2

Plain radiographs in a 68-year-old female patient at postoperative month 36. There was no halo phenomenon.

4. Correlation of the halo phenomenon with various factors

In the patient group exhibiting the halo phenomenon, the mean (SD) BMD of the lumbar vertebra and the proximal femur were 0.835 (0.244) g/cm2 and 0.361 (0.131) g/cm2, respectively. In the group without the halo phenomenon, the mean (SD) BMD of the lumbar vertebra and the proximal femur were 0.842 (0.171) g/cm2 and 0.442 (0.157) g/cm2, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups.

Variables including age, weight, menopause, BMD, osteoarthritis in the knee, VAS for back pain, VAS for leg pain, and fusion state were entered in multivariate logistic regression analysis to determine their association with the halo phenomenon in more than 2 pedicle screws. Old age, absence of osteoarthritis in the knee joint, and non-union state (the criteria of "probably not solid" or "definitely not solid") were found to be significant risk factors for the halo phenomenon in more than 2 pedicle screws (p<0.05). The radiological halo phenomenon did not correlate with clinical outcomes (VAS for back pain and leg pain).

Discussion

There have been many in vitro studies relating to factors affecting the stability of screws. These factors include the length of the pedicle screw, the outer diameter of the pedicle screw, the design, the compatibility with the pedicle, BMD, and the elasticity of the cancellous bone10-15. BMD has been regarded as the most significant factor influencing screw stability11,20-22. However, in vivo studies concerning the correlation of pedicle screw stability and BMD have demonstrated conflicting results23-25. Hence, this study was designed to determine the correlation between pedicle screw system stability and BMD, as well as other various factors.

In the current study, BMD was not related to the halo phenomenon. The BMD in the group with the halo phenomenon was no different from that in the group without the halo phenomenon. We analyzed the odds ratio for the halo phenomenon in patients with more than 2 pedicle screws with regard to age, weight, menopause, BMD, osteoarthritis of the knee, VAS for back pain, VAS for leg pain, and fusion state, using logistic regression analysis. Age, absence of osteoarthritis in the knee, and non-union state were significant risk factors for the halo phenomenon (p<0.05).

In elderly patients, it is thought that progression of osteoporosis, instability caused by deterioration of muscle power, and weakness in adjacent ligament force may influence the halo phenomenon. Therefore, old age could have been one of the risk factors associated with the halo phenomenon in this study. Patients without arthritis in the knee usually have higher activity in comparison with patients with arthritis in the knee, and this higher activity may be a causative factor that induces the halo phenomenon. In addition, pedicle screw instability could theoretically lead to the halo phenomenon in patients without spine fusion. However, there was no specific correlation between the halo phenomenon and surgical outcome in this study.

In the current study, several factors, such as age, arthritic changes in the knee, and fusion state influenced the occurrence of the halo phenomenon, but we believe there is no definitive evidence to suggest that these relationships have significant clinical relevance.

Conclusions

The halo phenomenon can develop after pedicle screw fixation. Age, fusion state, and osteoarthritis of the knee affect the incidence. The ultimate significance of this phenomenon is still not known, because it does not seem to influence clinical outcomes. Thus, the use of HA coating screws, expandable screws, cement augmentation, and additional surgeries to prevent the halo phenomenon is not necessary.

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Article information Continued

Fig. 1

Plain radiographs show the halo phenomenon (radiolucent line around the pedicle screws).

Fig. 2

Plain radiographs in a 68-year-old female patient at postoperative month 36. There was no halo phenomenon.