Minimally invasive mini open split-muscular percutaneous pedicle screw fixation of the thoracolumbar spine

We prospectively assessed the feasibility and safety of a new percutaneous pedicle screw (PPS) fixation technique for instrumentation of the thoracic and lumbar spine in this study. All patients were operated in the prone position under general anesthesia. A 6 to 8 cm midline skin incision was made and wide sub-cutaneous dissection was performed. The paravertebral muscles were first dissected subperiosteally into the midline incision of the fascia for lumbar microdiscectomy with transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion cage implantation. After the secondary paramedian incisions on the fascia, the PPSs were inserted via cleavage of the multifidus muscles directly into the pedicles under fluoroscopy visualization. A total of 35 patients underwent surgery with this new surgical technique. The control group for operative time, blood loss and analgesic usage consisted of 35 randomly selected cases from our department. The control group underwent surgery via conventional pedicle screw instrumentation with paramedian fusion. All patients in the minimal invasive surgery series were ambulatory with minimal pain on the first postoperative day. The operation time and blood loss and the postoperative analgesic consumption were significantly less with this new technique. In conclusion, the minimal invasive mini open split-muscular percutaneous pedicle screw fixation technique is safe and feasible. It can be performed via a short midline skin incision and can also be combined with interbody fusion, causing minimal pain without severe muscle damage.

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Minimally Invasive Single-Position Lateral Interbody Fusion With Robotic Bilateral Percutaneous Pedicle Screw Fixation: 2-Dimensional Operative Video

Operative Neurosurgery ◽

10.1093/ons/opy240 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. E121-E121 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Corey T Walker ◽

Jakub Godzik ◽

David S Xu ◽

Nicholas Theodore ◽

Juan S Uribe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Minimally Invasive ◽

Pedicle Screw ◽

Interbody Fusion ◽

Screw Fixation ◽

Pedicle Screw Fixation ◽

Screw Placement ◽

Lateral Interbody Fusion ◽

Percutaneous Pedicle Screw ◽

Percutaneous Pedicle Screw Fixation ◽

Lateral Interbody

Abstract Lateral interbody fusion has distinct advantages over traditional posterior approaches. When adjunctive percutaneous pedicle screw fixation is required, placement from the lateral decubitus position theoretically increases safety and improves operative efficiency by obviating the need for repositioning. However, safe cannulation of the contralateral, down-side pedicles remains technically challenging and often prohibitive. In this video, we present the case of a 59-yr-old man with refractory back pain and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy that was worse on the left than right side. The patient provided written informed consent before undergoing treatment. We performed minimally invasive single-position lateral interbody fusion with robotic (ExcelsiusGPS, Globus Medical Inc, Audubon, Pennsylvania) bilateral percutaneous pedicle screw fixation for the treatment of asymmetric disc degeneration, dynamic instability, and left paracentral disc herniation with corresponding stenosis at the L3-4 level. A left-sided minimally invasive transpsoas lateral interbody graft was placed with fluoroscopic guidance. Without changing the position of the patient or breaking the sterile field, an intraoperative cone-beam computed tomography image was obtained for navigational screw placement with stereotactic trackers in the iliac spine. Screw trajectories were planned using the robotic navigation software and were placed percutaneously in the bilateral L3 and L4 pedicles using the robotic arm. Concomitant lateral fluoroscopy may be used if desired to ensure the fidelity of the robotic guidance. The patient recovered well postoperatively and was discharged home within 36 h, without complication. Single-position lateral interbody fusion and percutaneous pedicle screw fixation can be accomplished using robotic-assisted navigation and pedicle screw placement. Used with permission from Barrow Neurological Institute.

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