Navigation on the Thoracic and Lumbar Spine (original) (raw)
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International journal of spine surgery, 2016
Technological advances, including navigation, have been made to improve safety and accuracy of pedicle screw fixation. We evaluated the accuracy of the virtual screw placement (Stealth projection) compared to actual screw placement (intra-operative O-Arm) and examined for differences based on the distance from the reference frame. A retrospective evaluation of prospectively collected data was conducted from January 2013 to September 2013. We evaluated thoracic and lumbosacral pedicle screws placed using intraoperative O-arm and Stealth navigation by obtaining virtual screw projections and intraoperative O-arm images after screw placement. The screw trajectory angle to the midsagittal line and superior endplate was compared in the axial and sagittal views, respectively. Percent error and paired t-test statistics were then performed. Thirty-one patients with 240 pedicle screws were analyzed. The mean angular difference between the virtual and actual image in all screws was 2.17° ± 2.2...
European Spine Journal, 2012
Introduction With the advances and improvement of computer-assisted surgery devices, computer-guided pedicle screws insertion has been applied to the lumbar, thoracic and cervical spine. The purpose of the present study was to perform a systematic review of all available prospective evidence regarding pedicle screw insertion techniques in the thoracic and lumbar human spine. Materials and methods We considered all prospective in vivo clinical studies in the English literature that assessed the results of different pedicle screw placement techniques (free-hand technique, fluoroscopy guided, computed tomography (CT)-based navigation, fluoro-based navigation). MEDLINE, OVID, and Springer databases were used for the literature search covering the period from January 1950 until May 2010.
Global spine journal, 2013
MISS techniques have gained recent popularity. The proposed benefits of these techniques include reduced tissue trauma, reduced blood loss, less perioperative pain, and a quicker recovery and return to normal activities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of intraoperative computed tomography (CT)-based navigation for placement of percutaneous pedicle screws in a cadaveric model. Outcome measures included accuracy of screw placement. Two cadaveric specimens were utilized. CT images were obtained using an O-Arm (Medtronic, Memphis, Tennessee, United States) and were coupled to the Stealth navigation system (Medtronic). Computer navigation was used for placement of percutaneous pedicle screws. Screws were placed bilaterally from T5 to S1. Postinsertion CT scans were obtained. Pedicle breach was assessed and classified (I: none, II: < 2 mm, III: 2 to 4 mm, or IV: > 4 mm) with direction of breach. Thirty thoracic screws were placed with 3 (10%) medial breaches ...
Analysis of CT-based Navigation System for Pedicle Screw Placement
Orthopedics, 2012
The incidence of pedicle screw breech varies based on anatomic location, body habitus, surgeon experience, spinal deformity, and surgical technique. Pedicle breeches have been reported to occur in up to 40% of screws. The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare the rates of revision of pedicle screw placement when using intraoperative C-arm vs O-arm (Medtronic, Memphis, Tennessee) assessment of pedicle screws. An economic analysis was also performed based on the estimated cost of pedicle screw revision. Four (1%) of 386 control patients required pedicle screw revision for a breeched pedicle screw not identified with intraoperative C-arm fluoroscopy. In the study group, none of the 331 patients returned to the operating room when O-arm was used to assess pedicle screw placement. Based on the 1% rate of returning to the operating room in the control group, the annual rate of cases nationwide requiring pedicle screw revision would be approximately 2300, with a cost of approximately $40,595,000. These results suggest that the use of intraoperative O-arm can reduce the need for revision of a breeched pedicle screw. This can potentially lead to a major cost savings.
The International Journal of Spine Surgery, 2012
Background: Pedicle screws are biomechanically superior over other spinal fixation devices. When improperly positioned, they lose this advantage and put adjacent structures at risk. Accurate placement is therefore critical. Postoperative computed tomography (CT) scans are the imaging gold standard and have shown malposition rates ranging from 2% to 41%. The O-arm (Medtronic Navigation, Louisville, Colorado) is an intraoperative CT scanner that may allow intervention for malpositioned screws while patients are still in the operating room. However, this has not yet been shown in clinical studies. The primary objective of this study was to assess the usefulness of the O-arm for evaluating pedicle screw position by answering the following question: What is the rate of intraoperative pedicle screw revision brought about by O-arm imaging information? A secondary question was also addressed: What is the rate of unacceptable thoracic and lumbar pedicle screw placement as assessed by intraoperative O-arm imaging? Methods: This is a case series of consecutive patients who have undergone spine surgery for which an intraoperative 3-dimensional (3D) CT scan was used to assess pedicle screw position. The study comprised 602 pedicle screws (235 thoracic and 367 lumbar/sacral) placed in 76 patients, and intraoperative 3D (O-arm) imaging was obtained to assess screw position. Action taken at the time of surgery based on imaging information was noted. An independent review of all scans was also conducted, and all screws were graded as either optimal (no breach), acceptable (breach Յ2 mm), or unacceptable (breach Ͼ2 mm). The rate of pedicle screw revision, as detected by intraoperative 3D CT scan, was determined. Results: On the basis of 3D imaging information, 17 of 602 screws (2.8%) in 14 of 76 cases (18.4%) were revised at the time of surgery. On independent review of multiplanar images, 11 screws (1.8%) were found to be unacceptable, 32 (5.3%) were acceptable, and 559 (92.9%) were optimal. All unacceptable screws were revised to an optimal or acceptable position, and an additional 6 acceptable screws were revised to an optimal position. Thus, by the end of the cases, none of the 602 pedicle screws in the 76 surgical procedures was in an unacceptable position. Conclusion: The new-generation intraoperative 3D imaging system (O-arm) is a useful tool that allows more accurate assessment of pedicle screw position than plain radiographs or fluoroscopy alone. It prompted intraoperative repositioning of 2.8% of pedicle screws in our series. Most importantly, it allowed identification and revision of all unacceptably placed pedicle screws without the need for reoperation.
Accuracy of upper thoracic pedicle screw placement using three-dimensional image guidance
The Spine Journal, 2009
BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Pedicle screw malposition rates using conventional techniques have been reported to occur with a frequency of 6% to 41%. The upper thoracic spine (T1-T3) is a challenging area for pedicle screw placement secondary to the small size of the pedicles, the inability to visualize this area with lateral fluoroscopy, and significant consequences for malpositioned screws. We describe our experience placing 150 pedicle screws in the T1-T3 levels using three-dimensional (3D) image guidance. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of 3D image guidance for placing pedicle screws in the first three thoracic vertebrae. STUDY DESIGN: The accuracy of pedicle screw placement in the first three thoracic vertebrae was evaluated using postoperative thin-section computed tomography (CT) scans of the cervicothoracic region. PATIENT SAMPLE: Thirty-four patients who underwent cervicothoracic fusion were included. OUTCOME MEASURES: Radiological investigation with CT scans was performed during the postoperative period. METHODS: Thirty-four consecutive patients underwent cervicothoracic instrumentation and fusion for a total of 150 pedicle screws placed in the first three thoracic vertebrae. All screws were placed using 3D image guidance. Medical records and postoperative imaging of the cervicothoracic junction for each patient were retrospectively reviewed. An independent radiologist reviewed the placement of the pedicle screws and assessed for pedicle breach. All cortical violations were reported as Grade 1, 0 to 2 mm; Grade 2, 2 to 4 mm; and Grade 3, greater than 4 mm. RESULTS: Overall, 140 (93.3%) out of 150 screws were contained solely in the desired pedicle. All 10 pedicle violations were Grade 1. The direction of pedicle violation included three medial, four inferior, two superior, and one minor anterolateral vertebral body. No complication occurred as a result of screw placement or the use of image guidance. CONCLUSIONS: Upper thoracic pedicle screw placement is technically demanding as a result of variable pedicle anatomy and difficulty with two-dimensional visualization. This study demonstrates the accuracy and reliability of 3D image guidance when placing pedicle screws in this region. Advantages of this technology in our practice include safe and accurate placement of spinal instrumentation with little to no radiation exposure to the surgeon and operating room staff. Ó
The Journal of Spinal Surgery, 2016
Introduction: The use of pedicle screws in stabilizing all three columns of the spine is a well-known but technically demanding procedure. Various assisted techniques like intraoperative fluoroscopy and stereotaxy-guided techniques have marginally increased placement accuracy along with increased radiation exposure to the surgeon and the patient, with an increased operative time. Over the last two decades, a detailed understanding of the anatomy of the thoracolumbar pedicles has led to the emergence of the "free-hand" technique. Objectives: To analyze the pedicle screw placement in thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spine over a 3-year period in terms of the intraoperative and immediate postoperative procedural results using navigation-guided and free hand techniques. Materials and methods: A retrospective study was done over a period of 3 years from November 2012 to December 2015 in a tertiary care center by a single surgeon, involving 118 cases that were done using the C-arm navigation and the free hand technique. Results: The study involved a total of 118 patients and 546 screws over a period of 3 years. The indications consisted of degenerative diseases (72%), infection (12.7%), trauma (12.7%), and malignancy (2.54%). The initial 77 cases were done by image guidance under C arm navigation and the later 41 cases with free hand techniques. Among these, there were eight breaches noted (6.72%), five (6.49%) in the image-guided technique vs three (7.3%) in the freehand technique. The direction of breach was lateral in one case (12.5%) and medial in seven cases (87.5%). Three patients (37.5%) with suboptimal screw placement underwent revision surgery. Four patients (3.36%) in the present study had postoperative neurological deficit in the form of foot drop and preoperative durotomies noted in nine patients (7.62%). Postoperative surgical site infections were noted in four cases (3.38%). Conclusion: Free hand pedicle screw placement based on external anatomy alone can be performed with acceptable safety and accuracy in experienced hands and allows avoidance of radiation exposure encountered in fluoroscopic techniques.
Pedicle screw insertion: computed tomography versus fluoroscopic image guidance
International Orthopaedics, 2007
Computed tomography image-guided surgery (CTGS) clearly improves the accuracy of pedicle screw insertion. Recent reports claim that a fluoroscopy-guided system (FGS) offered high accuracy and easy application. However, the superiority of either technique remains unclear in clinical application. This study compares the accuracy of pedicle screws installed using CTGS with that of screws installed using FGS. Seventy-four screws inserted using FGS in 13 patients and 76 screws inserted using CTGS in 11 patients were compared. The study population included ten cases of vertebral fracture, five cases of degenerative spondylolisthesis, three cases of spondylolytic spondylolisthesis, two cases of tuberculous spondylitis, two cases of failed earlier back surgery and two case of ankylosing spondylitis with pseudarthrosis. The installed vertebral levels ranged from T8 to S1. Screw positions were assessed with postoperative radiographs and computed tomography. Sixty-nine (93.2%) screws were correctly placed in the FGS group, and seventy-three (96.1%) screws were correctly placed in the CTGS group (P=0.491). The results indicated that both image-guided systems offer high accuracy. However, the fluoroscope image-guided system could be considered the primary tool for lower thoracic and lumbosacral pedicle placement because it enables real-time navigation and does not require a preoperative CT scan. Résumé La chirurgie assistée par imagerie (CTGS) permet d'avoir une meilleure sécurité lors de l'implantation de vis pediculaires. Des articles récents montrent que le système avec amplificateur de brillance (fluoroscopie FGS) permet également cette implantation. Cependant, la supériorité d'une technique ou d'une autre n'apparaît pas clairement. Le but de cette étude est de comparer la bonne implantation des vis pediculaires en utilisant les deux systèmes. 74 vis ont été insérées avec le système FGS chez 13 patients et 66 vis avec le système CTGS chez 11 patients. Ces deux séries ont été comparées. Cette étude inclut 10 cas de fractures vertébrales, 5 cas de spondylolisthésis dégénératifs, 3 cas de spondylolisthésis avec spondylolyse, à 2 cas d'atteintes tuberculeuses, 2 cas d'échec de chirurgie par voie postérieure et 2 cas de spondylarthrite ankylosante avec pseudarthrose. Les niveaux d'instrumentation se sont échelonnés de T8 à S1. 69 (93.2%) vis ont été correctement mises en place dans le groupe FGS et, 73 (96.1%) avec le groupe CTGS (P=0.491). Les résultats montrent que le système d'images guidées CTGS offre beaucoup plus de sécurité dans l'implantation des vis tant au niveau lombaire qu'au niveau thoracique ou lombosacré ceci ne nécessite pas par ailleurs un scanner pré opératoire.