Feasibility of mixed reality–based intraoperative three-dimensional image-guided navigation for atlanto-axial pedicle screw placement

Author(s):  
Xinghuo Wu ◽  
Rong Liu ◽  
Song Xu ◽  
Cao Yang ◽  
Shuhua Yang ◽  
...  

This study aimed to evaluate the safety and accuracy of mixed reality–based intraoperative three-dimensional navigated pedicle screws in three-dimensional printed model of fractured upper cervical spine. A total of 27 cervical model from patients of upper cervical spine fractures formed the study group. All the C1 and C2 pedicle screws were inserted under mixed reality–based intraoperative three-dimensional image-guided navigation system. The accuracy and safety of the pedicle screw placement were evaluated on the basis of postoperative computerized tomography scans. A total of 108 pedicle screws were properly inserted into the cervical three-dimensional models under mixed reality–based navigation, including 54 C1 pedicle screws and 54 C2 pedicle screws. Analysis of the dimensional parameters of each pedicle at C1/C2 level showed no statistically significant differences in the ideal and the actual entry points, inclined angles, and tailed angles. No screw was misplaced outside the pedicle of the three-dimensional printed model, and no ionizing X-ray radiation was used during screw placement under navigation. It is easy and safe to place C1/C2 pedicle screws under MR surgical navigation. Mixed reality–based navigation is feasible within upper cervical spinal fractures with improved safety and accuracy of C1/C2 pedicle screw insertion.

Author(s):  
L Neuburger ◽  
Y Cheng ◽  
DR Fourney

Background: Image-guided navigation is routinely used in spine surgery to improve placement of pedicle screws. However, most reports have relied on two-dimensional X-ray evaluation to determine accuracy of screw positioning. In this study, computed tomography (CT) and O-arm imaging enabled a detailed three-dimensional comparison of screw placement. The objective was to compare the accuracy of pedicle screw placement with intraoperative X-ray versus O-arm image-guided navigation. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of image-guided pedicle screw placement in patients who underwent spinal instrumentation. Post-operative CT and O-arm imaging allowed grading of screw accuracy based on pedicle breaches. Clinical outcomes included patient and operative factors. Results: Pedicle screws were placed in 208 patients (1116 screws). Three-dimensional O-arm guidance was utilized for 126 patients, while the remainder underwent two-dimensional X-ray imaging and post-operative CT assessment. O-arm navigation was associated with improved pedicle screw accuracy: pedicle breaches were more likely to be low grade (odds ratio 2.84, p=0.001) and less likely to be medium grade (odds ratio 0.35, p=0.007) or high grade (odds ratio 0.31, p=0.025). Conclusions: This study provided a detailed comparison of surgical accuracy with X-ray versus O-arm guidance. Navigation with O-arm imaging is associated with benefits in spinal instrumentation, without impacting operative risks for patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 891-899 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan J. Rasouli ◽  
Brooke T. Kennamer ◽  
Frank M. Moore ◽  
Alfred Steinberger ◽  
Kevin C. Yao ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVEThe C7 vertebral body is morphometrically unique; it represents the transition from the subaxial cervical spine to the upper thoracic spine. It has larger pedicles but relatively small lateral masses compared to other levels of the subaxial cervical spine. Although the biomechanical properties of C7 pedicle screws are superior to those of lateral mass screws, they are rarely placed due to increased risk of neurological injury. Although pedicle screw stimulation has been shown to be safe and effective in determining satisfactory screw placement in the thoracolumbar spine, there are few studies determining its utility in the cervical spine. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility, clinical reliability, and threshold characteristics of intraoperative evoked electromyographic (EMG) stimulation in determining satisfactory pedicle screw placement at C7.METHODSThe authors retrospectively reviewed a prospectively collected data set. All adult patients who underwent posterior cervical decompression and fusion with placement of C7 pedicle screws at the authors’ institution between January 2015 and March 2019 were identified. Demographic, clinical, neurophysiological, operative, and radiographic data were gathered. All patients underwent postoperative CT scanning, and the position of C7 pedicle screws was compared to intraoperative neurophysiological data.RESULTSFifty-one consecutive C7 pedicle screws were stimulated and recorded intraoperatively in 25 consecutive patients. Based on EMG findings, 1 patient underwent intraoperative repositioning of a C7 pedicle screw, and 1 underwent removal of a C7 pedicle screw. CT scans demonstrated ideal placement of the C7 pedicle screw in 40 of 43 instances in which EMG stimulation thresholds were > 15 mA. In the remaining 3 cases the trajectories were suboptimal but safe. When the screw stimulation thresholds were between 11 and 15 mA, 5 of 6 screws were suboptimal but safe, and in 1 instance was potentially dangerous. In instances in which the screw stimulated at thresholds ≤ 10 mA, all trajectories were potentially dangerous with neural compression.CONCLUSIONSIdeal C7 pedicle screw position strongly correlated with EMG stimulation thresholds > 15 mA. In instances, in which the screw stimulates at values between 11 and 15 mA, screw trajectory exploration is recommended. Screws with thresholds ≤ 10 mA should always be explored, and possibly repositioned or removed. In conjunction with other techniques, EMG threshold testing is a useful and safe modality in determining appropriate C7 pedicle screw placement.


2003 ◽  
Vol 99 (3) ◽  
pp. 324-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Langston T. Holly ◽  
Kevin T. Foley

✓ The authors sought to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of three-dimensional (3D) fluoroscopic guidance for percutaneous placement of thoracic and lumbar pedicle screws in three cadaveric specimens. After attaching a percutaneous dynamic reference array to the surgical anatomy, an isocentric C-arm fluoroscope was used to obtain images of the region of interest. Light-emitting diodes attached to the C-arm unit were tracked using an electrooptical camera. The image data set was transferred to the image-guided workstation, which performed an automated registration. Using the workstation display, pedicle screw trajectories were planned. An image-guided drill guide was passed through a stab incision, and this was followed by sequential image-guided pedicle drilling, tapping, and screw placement. Pedicle screws of various diameters (range 4–6.5 mm) were placed in all pedicles greater than 4 mm in diameter. Postoperatively, thin-cut computerized tomography scans were obtained to determine the accuracy of screw placement. Eighty-nine (94.7%) of 94 percutaneous screws were placed completely within the cortical pedicle margins, including all 30 lumbar screws (100%) and 59 (92%) of 64 thoracic screws. The mean diameter of all thoracic pedicles was 6 mm (range 2.9–11 mm); the mean diameter of the five pedicles in which wall violations occurred was 4.6 mm (range 4.1–6.3 mm). Two of the violations were less than 2 mm beyond the cortex; the others were between 2 and 3 mm. Coupled with an image guidance system, 3D fluoroscopy allows highly accurate spinal navigation. Results of this study suggest that this technology will facilitate the application of minimally invasive techniques to the field of spine surgery.


2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 357-363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory M. Malham ◽  
Rhiannon M. Parker

OBJECTIVEImage guidance for spine surgery has been reported to improve the accuracy of pedicle screw placement and reduce revision rates and radiation exposure. Current navigation and robot-assisted techniques for percutaneous screws rely on bone-anchored trackers and Kirchner wires (K-wires). There is a paucity of published data regarding the placement of image-guided percutaneous screws without K-wires. A new skin-adhesive stereotactic patient tracker (SpineMask) eliminates both an invasive bone-anchored tracker and K-wires for pedicle screw placement. This study reports the authors’ early experience with the use of SpineMask for “K-wireless” placement of minimally invasive pedicle screws and makes recommendations for its potential applications in lumbar fusion.METHODSForty-five consecutive patients (involving 204 screws inserted) underwent K-wireless lumbar pedicle screw fixation with SpineMask and intraoperative neuromonitoring. Screws were inserted by percutaneous stab or Wiltse incisions. If required, decompression with or without interbody fusion was performed using mini-open midline incisions. Multimodality intraoperative neuromonitoring assessing motor and sensory responses with triggered electromyography (tEMG) was performed. Computed tomography scans were obtained 2 days postoperatively to assess screw placement and any cortical breaches. A breach was defined as any violation of a pedicle screw involving the cortical bone of the pedicle.RESULTSFourteen screws (7%) required intraoperative revision. Screws were removed and repositioned due to a tEMG response < 13 mA, tactile feedback, and 3D fluoroscopic assessment. All screws were revised using the SpineMask with the same screw placement technique. The highest proportion of revisions occurred with Wiltse incisions (4/12, 33%) as this caused the greatest degree of SpineMask deformation, followed by a mini midline incision (3/26, 12%). Percutaneous screws via a single stab incision resulted in the fewest revisions (7/166, 4%). Postoperative CT demonstrated 7 pedicle screw breaches (3%; 5 lateral, 1 medial, 1 superior), all with percutaneous stab incisions (7/166, 4%). The radiological accuracy of the SpineMask tracker was 97% (197/204 screws). No patients suffered neural injury or required postoperative screw revision.CONCLUSIONSThe noninvasive cutaneous SpineMask tracker with 3D image guidance and tEMG monitoring provided high accuracy (97%) for percutaneous pedicle screw placement via stab incisions without K-wires.


2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 590-598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy J. Kovanda ◽  
Shaheryar F. Ansari ◽  
Rabia Qaiser ◽  
Daniel H. Fulkerson

OBJECT Rigid screw fixation may be technically difficult in the upper cervical spine of young children. Intraoperative stereotactic navigation may potentially assist a surgeon in precise placement of screws in anatomically challenging locations. Navigation may also assist in defining abnormal anatomy. The object of this study was to evaluate the authors’ initial experience with the feasibility and accuracy of this technique, both for resection and for screw placement in the upper cervical spine in younger children. METHODS Eight consecutive pediatric patients 10 years of age or younger underwent upper cervical spine surgery aided by image-guided navigation. The demographic, surgical, and clinical data were recorded. Screw position was evaluated with either an intraoperative or immediately postoperative CT scan. RESULTS One patient underwent navigation purely for guidance of bony resection. A total of 14 navigated screws were placed in the other 7 patients, including 5 C-2 pedicle screws. All 14 screws were properly positioned, defined as the screw completely contained within the cortical bone in the expected trajectory. There were no immediate complications associated with navigation. CONCLUSIONS Image-guided navigation is feasible within the pediatric cervical spine and may be a useful surgical tool for placing screws in a patient with small, often difficult bony anatomy. The authors describe their experience with their first 8 pediatric patients who underwent navigation in cervical spine surgery. The authors highlight differences in technique compared with similar navigation in adults.


Author(s):  
Praveen Satarasinghe ◽  
D. Kojo Hamilton ◽  
Michael Jace Tarver ◽  
Robert J. Buchanan ◽  
Michael T. Koltz

Object. Utilization of pedicle screws (PS) for spine stabilization is common in spinal surgery. With reliance on visual inspection of anatomical landmarks prior to screw placement, the free-hand technique requires a high level of surgeon skill and precision. Three-dimensional (3D) computer-assisted virtual neuronavigation improves the precision of PS placement and minimize steps. Methods. Twenty-three patients with degenerative, traumatic, or neoplastic pathologies received treatment via a novel three-step PS technique that utilizes a navigated power driver in combination with virtual screw technology. 1) Following visualization of neuroanatomy using intraoperative CT, a navigated 3-mm match stick drill bit was inserted at anatomical entry point with screen projection showing virtual screw. 2) Navigated Stryker Cordless Driver with appropriate tap was used to access vertebral body through pedicle with screen projection again showing virtual screw. 3) Navigated Stryker Cordless Driver with actual screw was used with screen projection showing the same virtual screw. One hundred and forty-four consecutive screws were inserted using this three-step, navigated driver, virtual screw technique. Results. Only 1 screw needed intraoperative revision after insertion using the three-step, navigated driver, virtual PS technique. This amounts to a 0.69% revision rate. One hundred percent of patients had intraoperative CT reconstructed images to confirm hardware placement. Conclusions. Pedicle screw placement utilizing the Stryker-Ziehm neuronavigation virtual screw technology with a three step, navigated power drill technique is safe and effective.


Author(s):  
Xinghuo Wu ◽  
Rong Liu ◽  
Jie Yu ◽  
Lin Lu ◽  
Cao Yang ◽  
...  

Cervical transarticular fixation is a technically demanding procedure. This study aimed to develop a safer and more accurate method for C1/2 pedicle screw placement using a three-dimensional printed drilling guide. A total of 20 patients with C1/2 fractures and dislocations were recruited, and their computed tomography scans were evaluated. Under the assistance of the three-dimensional printed drilling guide, bilateral C1/2 pedicle screws were successfully placed in the three-dimensional C1/2 models. Then, sagittal and axial computed tomography scans were obtained, and the accuracy and safety of screw placement were evaluated based on X-Y-Z axis setup. The average depths for C1 and C2 pedicle screws were 30.1 ± 1.12 and 31.81 ± 0.85 mm on the left side and 29.54 ± 1.01 and 31.35 ± 0.27 mm on the right side, respectively. The average dimensional parameters for C1/C2 pedicle screw of both sides were measured and analyzed, which showed no statistically significant differences in the ideal and the actual entry points, inclined angles, and tailed angles. The method of developing a three-dimensional printed drilling guide is an easy and safe technique. This novel technique is applicable for C1/2 pedicle screw fixation; the potential use of the three-dimensional printed guide to place C1/2 pedicle screw is promising.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 771-779 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew S. Youkilis ◽  
Douglas J. Quint ◽  
John E. McGillicuddy ◽  
Stephen M. Papadopoulos

Abstract OBJECTIVE Pedicle screw fixation in the lumbar spine has become the standard of care for various causes of spinal instability. However, because of the smaller size and more complex morphology of the thoracic pedicle, screw placement in the thoracic spine can be extremely challenging. In several published series, cortical violations have been reported in up to 50% of screws placed with standard fluoroscopic techniques. The goal of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of thoracic pedicle screw placement by use of image-guided techniques. METHODS During the past 4 years, 266 image-guided thoracic pedicle screws were placed in 65 patients at the University of Michigan Medical Center. Postoperative thin-cut computed tomographic scans were obtained in 52 of these patients who were available to enroll in the study. An impartial neuroradiologist evaluated 224 screws by use of a standardized grading scheme. All levels of the thoracic spine were included in the study. RESULTS Chart review revealed no incidence of neurological, cardiovascular, or pulmonary injury. Of the 224 screws reviewed, there were 19 cortical violations (8.5%). Eleven (4.9%) were Grade II (≤2 mm), and eight (3.6%) were Grade III (&gt;2 mm) violations. Only five screws (2.2%), however, were thought to exhibit unintentional, structurally significant violations. Statistical analysis revealed a significantly higher rate of cortical perforation in the midthoracic spine (T4–T8, 16.7%; T1–T4, 8.8%; and T9–T12, 5.6%). CONCLUSION The low rate of cortical perforations (8.5%) and structurally significant violations (2.2%) in this retrospective series compares favorably with previously published results that used anatomic landmarks and intraoperative fluoroscopy. This study provides further evidence that stereotactic placement of pedicle screws can be performed safely and effectively at all levels of the thoracic spine.


2001 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kee D. Kim ◽  
J. Patrick Johnson ◽  
Jesse D. Babbitz

Object Thoracic pedicle screw fixation is effective and reliable in providing short-segment stabilization. Although the procedure is becoming more widely used, accurate insertion of the screws is difficult due to the small dimensions of thoracic pedicles, and the associated risk is high due to the proximity of the spinal cord. In previous studies authors have shown the accuracy of image-guided lumbar pedicle screw placement, but there have been no reported investigations into the accuracy of image-guided thoracic pedicle screw placement. The authors report their experience with such an investigation. Methods To evaluate the accuracy of image-guided thoracic pedicle screw placement in vitro and in vivo, thoracic pedicle screws were placed with an image-guidance system in five human cadavers and 10 patients. In cadavers, the accuracy of screw placement was assessed by postoperative computerized tomography and visual inspection and in patients by postoperative imaging studies. Of the 120 pedicle screws placed in five cadavers pedicle violation occurred in 23 cases (19.2%); there was one pedicle violation (4.2%) in each of the last two cadavers. Of the 45 pedicle screws placed in 10 patients, pedicle violations occurred in three (6.7%). Conclusions In comparison with historical controls, the accuracy of thoracic pedicle screw placement is improved with the use of an image-guidance system. It allows the surgeon to visualize the thoracic pedicle and the surrounding structures that are normally out of the surgical field of view. The surgeon, however, must be aware of the limitations of an image-guidance system and have a sound basic knowledge of spinal anatomy to avoid causing serious complications.


2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 196-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Mason ◽  
Renee Paulsen ◽  
Jason M. Babuska ◽  
Sharad Rajpal ◽  
Sigita Burneikiene ◽  
...  

Object Several retrospective studies have demonstrated higher accuracy rates and increased safety for navigated pedicle screw placement than for free-hand techniques; however, the accuracy differences between navigation systems has not been extensively studied. In some instances, 3D fluoroscopic navigation methods have been reported to not be more accurate than 2D navigation methods for pedicle screw placement. The authors of this study endeavored to identify if 3D fluoroscopic navigation methods resulted in a higher placement accuracy of pedicle screws. Methods A systematic analysis was conducted to examine pedicle screw insertion accuracy based on the use of 2D, 3D, and conventional fluoroscopic image guidance systems. A PubMed and MEDLINE database search was conducted to review the published literature that focused on the accuracy of pedicle screw placement using intraoperative, real-time fluoroscopic image guidance in spine fusion surgeries. The pedicle screw accuracy rates were segregated according to spinal level because each spinal region has individual anatomical and morphological variations. Descriptive statistics were used to compare the pedicle screw insertion accuracy rate differences among the navigation methods. Results A total of 30 studies were included in the analysis. The data were abstracted and analyzed for the following groups: 12 data sets that used conventional fluoroscopy, 8 data sets that used 2D fluoroscopic navigation, and 20 data sets that used 3D fluoroscopic navigation. These studies included 1973 patients in whom 9310 pedicle screws were inserted. With conventional fluoroscopy, 2532 of 3719 screws were inserted accurately (68.1% accuracy); with 2D fluoroscopic navigation, 1031 of 1223 screws were inserted accurately (84.3% accuracy); and with 3D fluoroscopic navigation, 4170 of 4368 screws were inserted accurately (95.5% accuracy). The accuracy rates when 3D was compared with 2D fluoroscopic navigation were also consistently higher throughout all individual spinal levels. Conclusions Three-dimensional fluoroscopic image guidance systems demonstrated a significantly higher pedicle screw placement accuracy than conventional fluoroscopy or 2D fluoroscopic image guidance methods.


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