Patient-specific implants and spinal alignment outcomes

Abstract

BackgroundPatient specific (PS) technology has become popular in the field of spine surgery, as it gives surgeons control over the manufacturing of implants based on a patient's anatomy. Patient specific surgical guides, preoperative planning software, and patient specific implants – such as rods and cages, have demonstrated promising results in the literature for helping surgeons achieve spinal alignment goals. MethodsA review of the literature regarding PS technology in spine surgery for the correction of spinal deformity was performed and is compiled here. ResultsA description of the PS tools currently used for deformity correction and treatment of degenerative spine pathology with example cases are included in this manuscript. ConclusionsThe use of PS technology in spine surgery is an important development in the field that should continue to be studied.