MSC SPINE 2026 EXAMS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADED A+
✔✔What is the main goal in trauma cases? - ✔✔- stabilization
✔✔what does the friction fit head on a screw help with? - ✔✔rod placement
✔✔what are the 4 top selling advantages of a stand alone cage? - ✔✔- Time
- MIS
- biomechanics
- zero-profile
✔✔what are some challenges of MIS (percutaneous) screws? - ✔✔- inserting the rod
- disengagement of the tower
- disengagement of set screw off of the set screw driver
✔✔In a mini-open TLIF, how many incisions are used? what are they used for? - ✔✔- 3
incisions
- 1 (ipsilateral) for retraction and facetectomy and interbody placement
- 2 (contralateral) for percutaneous pedicle screws
✔✔Describe extrusion - ✔✔when the nucleus begins to exit the annulus
✔✔what are the 5 steps for pedicle screw placement? - ✔✔- awl
- pedicle probe (gearshift)
- ball tip probe
- tap
- screw
✔✔what are 2 advantages of using navigation during spine surgery? - ✔✔- trajectory
and accuracy of screw placement
- less radiation for OR staff
✔✔In a motion segment, what are actuators, levers, pivots, and restraints? - ✔✔-
actuators = muscles
- levers = vertebral bodies & bony projections
- pivots = facets & disc
- restraints = ligaments
✔✔In flexion, where does the nucleus move? - ✔✔posteriorly
✔✔Where do vertebral compression fractures happen? - ✔✔anteriorly in vertebral
bodies
, ✔✔what does ALIF stand for? - ✔✔anterior lumbar interbody fusion
✔✔How much biomechanical load is transferred through the anterior column of the
spine? - ✔✔80%
✔✔What are some benefits of the anterior procedures (DLIF & ALIF)? - ✔✔- indirect
decompression
- 1 large graft placement
- better biomechanical stability
- excellent disc height restoration
✔✔what are the most common complications of the transpsoas approach (LLIF/DLIF)? -
✔✔- anterior thigh pain
- transient quad or tibialis weakness
✔✔What is the most common level address in the ALIF? - ✔✔L5-S1
✔✔What level do the aorta and vena cava bifurcate directly anterior to? - ✔✔L4-L5
✔✔direct or indirect decompression?
- ALIF
- PLIF
- TLIF
- LLIF/DLIF - ✔✔- ALIF = indirect
- PLIF = direct
- TLIF = direct
- LLIF/DLIF = indirect
✔✔What is the traditional ALIF construct contain? - ✔✔cage and plate
✔✔In a traditional ALIF 360, what are the typical steps? - ✔✔- pt in supine position and
cage in inserted
- pt is flipped to prone position and pedicle screws are placed
✔✔After a TLIF procedure, what is it called if the cage migrates posteriorly? -
✔✔retropulsion
✔✔What is the most popular pedicle screw used? - ✔✔polyaxial
✔✔what screw is used to address a spondy? - ✔✔reduction screw
✔✔What is spondyloptosis? - ✔✔complete subluxation of one vertebrae over another
- grade 5 spondy
GRADED A+
✔✔What is the main goal in trauma cases? - ✔✔- stabilization
✔✔what does the friction fit head on a screw help with? - ✔✔rod placement
✔✔what are the 4 top selling advantages of a stand alone cage? - ✔✔- Time
- MIS
- biomechanics
- zero-profile
✔✔what are some challenges of MIS (percutaneous) screws? - ✔✔- inserting the rod
- disengagement of the tower
- disengagement of set screw off of the set screw driver
✔✔In a mini-open TLIF, how many incisions are used? what are they used for? - ✔✔- 3
incisions
- 1 (ipsilateral) for retraction and facetectomy and interbody placement
- 2 (contralateral) for percutaneous pedicle screws
✔✔Describe extrusion - ✔✔when the nucleus begins to exit the annulus
✔✔what are the 5 steps for pedicle screw placement? - ✔✔- awl
- pedicle probe (gearshift)
- ball tip probe
- tap
- screw
✔✔what are 2 advantages of using navigation during spine surgery? - ✔✔- trajectory
and accuracy of screw placement
- less radiation for OR staff
✔✔In a motion segment, what are actuators, levers, pivots, and restraints? - ✔✔-
actuators = muscles
- levers = vertebral bodies & bony projections
- pivots = facets & disc
- restraints = ligaments
✔✔In flexion, where does the nucleus move? - ✔✔posteriorly
✔✔Where do vertebral compression fractures happen? - ✔✔anteriorly in vertebral
bodies
, ✔✔what does ALIF stand for? - ✔✔anterior lumbar interbody fusion
✔✔How much biomechanical load is transferred through the anterior column of the
spine? - ✔✔80%
✔✔What are some benefits of the anterior procedures (DLIF & ALIF)? - ✔✔- indirect
decompression
- 1 large graft placement
- better biomechanical stability
- excellent disc height restoration
✔✔what are the most common complications of the transpsoas approach (LLIF/DLIF)? -
✔✔- anterior thigh pain
- transient quad or tibialis weakness
✔✔What is the most common level address in the ALIF? - ✔✔L5-S1
✔✔What level do the aorta and vena cava bifurcate directly anterior to? - ✔✔L4-L5
✔✔direct or indirect decompression?
- ALIF
- PLIF
- TLIF
- LLIF/DLIF - ✔✔- ALIF = indirect
- PLIF = direct
- TLIF = direct
- LLIF/DLIF = indirect
✔✔What is the traditional ALIF construct contain? - ✔✔cage and plate
✔✔In a traditional ALIF 360, what are the typical steps? - ✔✔- pt in supine position and
cage in inserted
- pt is flipped to prone position and pedicle screws are placed
✔✔After a TLIF procedure, what is it called if the cage migrates posteriorly? -
✔✔retropulsion
✔✔What is the most popular pedicle screw used? - ✔✔polyaxial
✔✔what screw is used to address a spondy? - ✔✔reduction screw
✔✔What is spondyloptosis? - ✔✔complete subluxation of one vertebrae over another
- grade 5 spondy
