Anterior Thoracic Plate System – Anterior Thoracolumbar Spinal Instrumentation Set

The Anterior Thoracic Plate System from Peak Surgicals is a 22-piece anterior spinal instrumentation set designed for vertebral body plate fixation via the anterior approach to the thoracic and thoracolumbar spine, covering the complete intraoperative workflow of anterior plate-and-screw spinal stabilisation — including vertebral body screw channel preparation with curved and straight guide pins, hole enlargement, tapping at 6mm and 6.5mm, plate holding and positioning, compression and distraction between plate levels, screw insertion with dedicated holding driver and universal screwdriver, and final wrench tightening. The set includes a Detector for screw channel assessment, Calipers for screw length measurement, a Compression Clamp and Distractor Clamp for segmental alignment, and a Plate Holding Clamp for plate positioning on the vertebral body during screw fixation, all supplied in an aluminium box. It is used by spine surgeons and thoracic surgeons in hospital operating theatres performing anterior spinal reconstruction for thoracic and thoracolumbar fractures, spinal tumour resection with vertebral body reconstruction, and thoracolumbar deformity correction requiring anterior column support and stabilisation.

Anterior Approach to the Thoracic and Thoracolumbar Spine: Indication and Access

The anterior approach to the thoracic and thoracolumbar spine provides direct access to the vertebral bodies, intervertebral discs, and anterior spinal canal from the front — either through an open thoracotomy, a thoracoabdominal incision, or a thoracoscopic/video-assisted approach depending on the level and extent of the pathology. This approach is chosen over posterior instrumentation for conditions where the primary pathology is in the anterior column: burst fractures with significant anterior vertebral body comminution and retropulsed fragments causing anterior cord compression, spinal tumours requiring vertebral body resection (corpectomy) followed by anterior reconstruction, thoracic kyphosis requiring anterior column release and support, and selected cases of thoracolumbar instability where anterior plate fixation provides direct anterior column support that cannot be achieved from the posterior approach alone. The anterior plate system places a plate directly on the lateral surface of the vertebral bodies spanning the pathological level, with screws inserted into the vertebral bodies above and below the decompressed or resected segment to restore anterior column height and mechanical stability.

Guide Pins, Drill Guider, Hole Enlarger, and Obturator for Screw Preparation

Anterior vertebral body screw insertion begins with identifying the correct entry point on the lateral vertebral body surface and establishing a screw trajectory toward the opposite cortex under biplane fluoroscopic guidance. The Curved Guide Pin (PS-CGP-001) establishes the initial trajectory in vertebral bodies where the anatomy or plate position requires an angled guide wire approach — the curved tip follows the cancellous trajectory between the cortex walls. The Straight Guide Pin (PS-SGP-002) is used where a standard perpendicular or slightly convergent screw trajectory is required. The Drill Guider (PS-DG-007) directs the Drill Bit (PS-DB-003) along the correct trajectory through the plate hole and into the vertebral body, ensuring the drill does not deviate laterally or anteriorly during cortical penetration. The Hole Enlarger (PS-HE-009) widens the drill channel to accommodate the screw diameter before tapping, particularly at the cortical entry point on the lateral vertebral surface where the initial drill diameter may be smaller than the final screw diameter. The Obturator (PS-O-004) provides the blunt-tipped guide and protector for instrument advancement through the soft tissue and along the vertebral body surface during drill guidance steps.

Tapping: 6mm and 6.5mm for Anterior Vertebral Body Screw Preparation

The set includes two taps matched to the screw diameters used in anterior thoracic and thoracolumbar plate fixation. Tap 6mm (PS-T-012) prepares the vertebral body screw channel for standard 6mm diameter anterior vertebral body screws used in thoracic and upper thoracolumbar levels. Tap 6.5mm (PS-T-010) prepares the channel for 6.5mm screws used at lower thoracolumbar and lumbar levels where the larger vertebral body diameter accommodates a wider screw for increased pullout strength. Pre-tapping of the vertebral body cortex is important in anterior fixation because the lateral vertebral body cortex — particularly in the thoracic spine — is dense and narrow, and forcing a self-tapping screw without pre-tapping increases the risk of cortical splitting and screw misdirection. The Detector (PS-D-008) assesses the prepared screw channel before tapping, confirming channel integrity and absence of cortical breach in the direction of the spinal canal or major vessels.

Compression, Distraction, and Plate Positioning Instruments

The Plate Holding Clamp (PS-PHC-019) holds the anterior plate in position against the lateral vertebral body surface while the first screws are provisionally placed — maintaining plate position under the lateral forces encountered during vertebral body drilling and screw insertion in the limited access of the thoracic surgical corridor. The Compression Clamp 3mm (PS-CC-017) applies controlled compression between two adjacent plate levels after the plate screws are provisionally seated, closing any residual gap at the graft-endplate interface in reconstructed segments and increasing anterior column load-sharing through the bone graft or cage placed in the corpectomy defect. The Distractor Clamp (PS-DC-018) applies distraction between two adjacent plate levels to restore vertebral height, reduce kyphotic deformity, or achieve indirect decompression of the spinal canal through ligamentotaxis before the final screw tightening. The Holding Bolt SW8 (PS-HB-020) provides an additional fixation point for the clamp assembly against the plate.

Screw Insertion and Torque Application Instruments

The Screw Holding Driver (PS-T-SHD-011) holds the screw on the driver tip during introduction through the limited access of the anterior thoracic surgical corridor — preventing screw drop and maintaining screw orientation during the critical initial thread engagement step in the vertebral body. The Universal Screwdriver (PS-US-014) accommodates multiple screw head geometries within the anterior plate system. The two Screwdrivers (PS-S-013 and PS-S-015) provide the primary and secondary screw insertion and tightening tools for the plate screw heads. The two Nut Drivers SW8 (PS-NDS-005 and PS-NDS-006) apply torque to the plate nuts or nut-locking mechanism. The Calipers (PS-C-016) measure the distance between the entry point and the far cortex after the drill has been advanced to determine the correct screw length before screw selection. The Combination Wrench (PS-CW-021) and Wrench SW11 (PS-W-022) provide the final torque application for nut and bolt components of the plate system.

CE Mark, ISO 13485, and FDA Certification for Anterior Spinal Instrumentation Procurement

The Anterior Thoracic Plate System is manufactured under CE Mark, ISO 13485, and FDA compliant quality standards. ISO 13485 certification confirms Peak Surgicals operates a documented quality management system covering design control, material traceability, and production consistency for spinal surgical instruments. CE Mark confirms conformity with European medical device regulations, and FDA compliance supports procurement for US-based hospitals, spine surgery centers, and neurosurgical departments requiring verified regulatory documentation for anterior spinal instrumentation purchases.

Product Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What surgical procedures is the Anterior Thoracic Plate System used for?
The Anterior Thoracic Plate System is used for anterior spinal plate-and-screw fixation of the thoracic and thoracolumbar spine accessed through a thoracotomy, thoracoabdominal incision, or video-assisted thoracoscopic approach. Primary indications include thoracic and thoracolumbar burst fractures where the anterior vertebral body is severely comminuted and requires anterior decompression followed by anterior plate stabilisation after decompression; vertebral body tumours requiring corpectomy and anterior reconstruction; thoracic kyphosis correction by anterior release and anterior column support; and selected cases of thoracolumbar instability requiring anterior plate fixation to supplement or replace posterior instrumentation where the anterior column cannot bear load adequately after decompression.

What is the difference between anterior thoracic plate fixation and posterior pedicle screw fixation?
Posterior pedicle screw fixation (as provided by the Spinal Pedicle Screw System from Peak Surgicals) approaches the spine from behind through a posterior midline incision, placing screws into the pedicles of each vertebra and connecting them with rods. This technique provides posterior tension-band fixation and is used for the majority of spinal stabilisation procedures. Anterior thoracic plate fixation approaches the spine from the front or side through the chest, placing a plate directly on the lateral vertebral body surface spanning the pathological level with screws inserted into the vertebral bodies above and below. Anterior plating directly supports the anterior column — the weight-bearing column of the spine — and is used when the pathology is primarily anterior (burst fracture with anterior comminution, corpectomy defect, anterior kyphosis) where posterior fixation alone cannot restore anterior column support. In many thoracolumbar cases, anterior and posterior fixation are combined for maximum construct stability.

What does the Detector do in this system?
The Detector (PS-D-008) is a probe used to assess the integrity of the prepared screw channel in the vertebral body before tapping and screw insertion. After the drill has been advanced to the intended depth, the detector is passed into the channel and rotated to probe all walls of the drill hole — the tip is designed to detect any cortical breach in the drill channel wall. In anterior thoracic vertebral body screw placement, the medial wall of the channel (facing the spinal canal) and the anterior wall (facing the great vessels and aorta) are the critical directions where cortical breach has major consequences. The detector confirms these walls are intact before the wider-diameter tap and screw are introduced into the channel, preventing aortic injury from anteriorly penetrating screws and preventing spinal cord injury from medially penetrating screws.

Why are two different tap sizes (6mm and 6.5mm) included?
Anterior vertebral body screws in thoracic and thoracolumbar plate systems are typically available in 6mm and 6.5mm diameters to match the different vertebral body dimensions encountered across spinal levels. At upper and mid-thoracic levels, the vertebral bodies are smaller and the pedicle width is narrower, making 6mm screws more appropriate to avoid cortical breach. At lower thoracic and thoracolumbar levels (T10–L2), the vertebral bodies are larger and the available screw purchase length is greater, allowing 6.5mm screws that provide higher pullout force. The two taps in this set cover both diameters so the surgeon can select the appropriate screw size for each level without supplemental instruments.

What certifications does this set carry?
The Anterior Thoracic Plate System is manufactured under CE Mark, ISO 13485, and FDA compliant quality standards. ISO 13485 certification confirms Peak Surgicals operates a documented quality management system covering design control, material traceability, and manufacturing consistency for spinal surgical instruments. CE Mark confirms conformity with European medical device regulations, and FDA compliance supports procurement for US hospitals, spine surgery centers, and neurosurgical departments requiring verified regulatory documentation for anterior spinal instrumentation purchases.

Can individual instruments be ordered as replacements?
Individual instruments from the Anterior Thoracic Plate System — including the taps (6mm and 6.5mm), guide pins, drill bit, detector, calipers, and clamps — are available from Peak Surgicals as replacement items using their PS reference numbers. OEM manufacturing and custom configurations are available for spine surgery centers and distributors requiring modified layouts or custom packaging. Contact Peak Surgicals directly for replacement instrument pricing, OEM specifications, or institutional procurement arrangements.