Does robot-assisted navigation influence pedicle screw selection and accuracy in minimally invasive spine surgery?

OBJECTIVE The accuracy of percutaneous pedicle screw placement has increased with the advent of robotic and surgical navigation technologies. However, the effect of robotic intraoperative screw size and trajectory templating remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to compare pedicle screw sizes and accuracy of placement using robotic navigation (RN) versus skin-based intraoperative navigation (ION) alone in minimally invasive lumbar fusion procedures. METHODS A retrospective cohort study was conducted using a single-institution registry of spine procedures performed over a 4-year period. Patients who underwent 1- or 2-level primary or revision minimally invasive surgery (MIS)–transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) with pedicle screw placement, via either robotic assistance or surgical navigation alone, were included. Demographic, surgical, and radiographic data were collected. Pedicle screw type, quantity, length, diameter, and the presence of endplate breach or facet joint violation were assessed. Statistical analysis using the Student t-test and chi-square test was performed to evaluate the differences in pedicle screw sizes and the accuracy of placement between both groups. RESULTS Overall, 222 patients were included, of whom 92 underwent RN and 130 underwent ION MIS-TLIF. A total of 403 and 534 pedicle screws were placed with RN and ION, respectively. The mean screw diameters were 7.25 ± 0.81 mm and 6.72 ± 0.49 mm (p < 0.001) for the RN and ION groups, respectively. The mean screw length was 48.4 ± 4.48 mm in the RN group and 45.6 ± 3.46 mm in the ION group (p < 0.001). The rates of “ideal” pedicle screws in the RN and ION groups were comparable at 88.5% and 88.4% (p = 0.969), respectively. The overall screw placement was also similar. The RN cohort had 63.7% screws rated as good and 31.4% as acceptable, while 66.1% of ION-placed screws had good placement and 28.7% had acceptable placement (p = 0.661 and p = 0.595, respectively). There was a significant reduction in high-grade breaches in the RN group (0%, n = 0) compared with the ION group (1.2%, n = 17, p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggest that robotic assistance allows for placement of screws with greater screw diameter and length compared with surgical navigation alone, although with similarly high accuracy. These findings have implied that robotic platforms may allow for safe placement of the “optimal screw,” maximizing construct stability and, thus, the ability to obtain a successful fusion.

ANATOMICAL STUDY OF THE IDEAL POSITIONING OF THE S2 ILIAC SCREW

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the morphometry of the pelvis to determine the safe trajectory for the insertion of the S2-iliac screw, and to correlate it with studies reported in the literature for other populations. Method: The computed tomography (CT) pelvic exams of 36 Brazilian patients without congenital malformations, tumors, pelvic ring fractures or dysplasias were selected from the database of a radiological clinic. To define the ideal trajectory of the S2-iliac screw, the following variables were measured: 1- maximum sacroiliac screw length; 2- thickness of the iliac dipole for planning the choice of screw dimensions (length and diameter); 3 - distance between the insertion point of the iliac S2 screw and the posterior sacral cortex; 4 - angulation for insertion of the screw in the mediolateral direction, representing the angle formed between the “iliac line” and the anatomical sagittal plane; 5- Angulation for insertion of the screw in the craniocaudal direction. The Pearson's chi squared and student's t tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: The sample consisted of 36 patients, 50% (18/36) of whom were women. The mean age was 63.7 years, ranging from 23 to 96 years. All the pelvic morphometric variables analyzed presented values similar to those described in the literature for other populations. Conclusion: Prior evaluation of the tomography exams was important for preoperative planning, and there was a statistically significant difference between the sexes only in relation to the variables left craniocaudal and length of the left internal table. Level of evidence III; Observational cross-sectional study.

Long-term evaluation of factors affecting removal torque of microimplants

Background The current study aimed to evaluate factors affecting the long-term stability of microimplants using removal torque and the correlation between removal torque and clinical variables. Materials and methods This research evaluated 703 microimplants placed in 354 patients (mean age: 30.4 ± 12.1 years). The removal torque was evaluated according to various clinical variables including sex, age, placement site, microimplant size, and placement method (self-drilling versus pre-drilling). Pearson correlation and stepwise multiple linear regression analyses were performed to investigate different variables and their association with removal torque. Results The mean removal torque was significantly higher in the mandible (4.46 N cm) than in the maxilla (3.73 N cm). The values in the posterior teeth/retromolar areas were significantly higher than those in the anterior teeth area. There were no significant difference in terms of sex. Teenagers had a lower removal torque than older adults in the mandible, but not in the maxilla. Microimplants with a greater length and diameter, except for those with a greater diameter in the maxilla, was associated with a higher removal torque. Regardless of placement torque, the removal torque convergently reached approximately 4 N cm in both placement methods. The removal torque was significantly correlated with screw length in the self-drilling group and with diameter in the pre-drilling group. Conclusions Removal torque was related with placement site, age, placement method, and length and diameter of microimplants.

Experimental investigation of Archimedes Screw Hydro Turbine rotation with and without deflector

The Archimedes screw water turbine (AST) is a device that works mechanically to produce electrical energy with an energy source that comes from the flow of water. Archimedes screw hydro turbines operate at low head and flow rates and can generate electricity at micro levels. This type of turbine is very suitable for use in small waters such as irrigation and rivers. The research was conducted by building a prototype of a small-scale Archimedes screw hydro turbine with and without deflector. The purpose of this research is to compare the rotation produced by the two turbines and whether the installation of a deflector can improve turbine performance. The turbine is constructed with a screw length of 1 m, outer diameter is 30 cm, the number of blades 15, and each has a pitch distance is 13 cm. Turbine angle variations are 30°, 35°, and 40°. The results showed that the best rotor rotation was produced by the screw without deflector at an angle of 30°. This shows that the addition of a deflector reduces the resulting screw rotation.

A Study of The Developing Archimedes Screw as A Turbine

Electricity plays an imperative role in improving the rural or remote community economic growth and quality of life. The pico hydro type Archimedes screw turbine (AST) is considered an independent power plant in rural or remote areas. The advantages of the AST are friendly to aquatic biota, the high and stable efficiency (electrical efficiency of 30% to 49%), and can operate in a run of river conditions. However, although this technology has been studied ± two decades, there is still no theory explaining the relationship between conversion energy, the geometry of screws, and efficiency. Therefore, the development of Archimedes screw focuses on the role of a converter water energy categorized as the environmentally friendly power plant. Thus, this paper aims to describe the future work required for the AST so that the basic principles and empirical theories are found. Based on reviews, the AST design can use Rorres and Muller & Senior analysis, AC generators with a pulley and toothed belt transmission systems, and do not immerse the outflow bucket side in the water. Furthermore, for AST to be better, several studies need to be done such as the method of manufacturing precision screws, the effect bubbles in the bucket and how to avoid them, determination optimum of the head and screw length using the slope angle, and investigation of the ratio of the inlet velocity with the angular velocity of a wheel on performance to avoid overflow leakage due to loading.

Anatomical evaluation of the transpubic screw corridor based on a 3D statistical model of the pelvic ring

Retrograde transpubic screw fixation is a common procedure for the treatment of anterior pelvic ring fractures. With its sparing surgical approach and significant pain relief after screw fixations allowing early mobilisation, it has gained importance especially in the treatment of insufficiency fractures in elderly patients. However, positioning of transpubic screw osteosynthesis is not always possible due to narrowness and curvature of the screw corridor. The aim of the present study was to evaluate availability and length of the screw corridor using a 3D statistical model of the pelvic ring consisting out of 150 uninjured pelves. Virtual bore probes with a diameter of 7.5 mm were analysed as to accessibility, length and grey value distribution in Hounsfield Unit (HU). A transpubic corridor with a diameter of ≥ 7.5 mm was available in 185 of 300 investigated superior pubic rami with mean screw length of 131.7 mm. Accessibility of the screw corridor was higher in males than in females. However, screw length showed no systematic differences between the sexes or ethnicities. Analysis of the grey value distribution demonstrated the strongest bone to be located at the lateral ilium and the supraacetabular region.