Accuracy Of Cervical Pedicle Screw Placement Research Articles

Comparison of Cervical Pedicle Screw Placement Accuracy With Robotic Guidance System Versus Image Guidance System Using Propensity Score Matching.

A retrospective study. To compare the accuracy of cervical pedicle screw (CPS) placement using a robotic guidance system (RGS) with that of using an image guidance system (IGS; navigation system) through propensity score matching. The RGS may provide accurate CPS placement, which may outperform IGS. However, no study has directly compared the accuracy of CPS placement with the RGS to that with the IGS. We retrospectively reviewed the data of patients who had undergone cervical fusion surgery using CPS with the RGS or IGS. To adjust for potential confounders (patient demographic characteristics, disease etiology, and registration material), propensity score matching was performed, creating robotic guidance (RG) and matched image guidance (IG) groups. The accuracy of CPS placement from C2 to C6, where the vertebral artery runs, was evaluated on postoperative computed tomography images according to the Neo classification (grade 0 to grade 3). Furthermore, the intraoperative CPS revisions and related complications were examined. Using propensity score matching, 22 patients were included in the RG and matched groups each, and a total of 95 and 105 CPSs, respectively, were included in the analysis. In both the axial and sagittal planes, the clinically acceptable rate (grades 0 + 1) of CPS placement did not differ between the RG and matched IG groups (97.9% vs 94.3% and 95.8% vs 96.2%, respectively). The incidence of CPS revision was similar between the groups (2.1% vs 2.9%), and no CPS-related complications were documented. Meanwhile, the incidence of lateral breach (grades 1 + 2 + 3) was significantly lower in the RG group than in the matched IG group (1.1% vs 7.7%, P= 0.037). The RGS and IGS can equally aid in accurate and safe CPS placement in clinical settings. Nonetheless, RGS can further reduce the lateral breach, compared with IGS.

Modified Tap-drilling Technique for Mid-cervical Pedicle Screw Placement: A Case Series of 473 Consecutive Screws.

Retrospective cohort study. To report our modified tap-drilling technique for mid-cervical pedicle screw placement and to evaluate its safety and accuracy. Cervical pedicle screw fixation, which provides a strong stabilization, has been a major concern due to the potential risks to neurovascular structures despite its increasing use. Several insertion techniques have been described so far to improve the cervical pedicle screw placement accuracy. This study retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent mid-cervical (C3-C6) pedicle screw fixation between September 2005 and September 2020. Laminectomy, laminoforaminotomy, or notch-referred anatomic landmark methods were used to adjust the entry point and the direction of the screws. After the cortical bone was removed at the entry point with a diamond burr, the cancellous bone was slowly drilled with a hand drill starting from 8 to 10 millimeters in length. Then, all of the bone walls were checked with a ball-tip probe to determine if there was any breach. The procedure was repeated several times. After completing the drilling, the screw was inserted without tapping. The breach rate of pedicle screws was analyzed on postoperative computed tomography scans. A total of 473 mid-cervical pedicle screws were placed in 122 consecutive patients. No navigation or computer-assisted system was used, and the first 2 authors inserted all of the screws. All patients completed the surgery, and no evident intraoperative complications occurred. Postoperative CT scans were obtained for 405 screws. Although deviation was observed for 131 pedicle screws, a critical deviation was observed for only 25 pedicle screws. Cervical pedicle screw insertion is a risky but applicable technique. Checking all of the bone walls with a ball-tip probe before gradually advancing the hand drill in small amounts, as presented in this article, may lead to the safe and effective placement of cervical pedicle screws.

Pedicle screw placement with use of a navigated surgical drill at subaxial cervical spine

Study designRetrospective cohort study. ObjectiveThis study was performed to evaluate the accuracy of cervical pedicle screw (CPS) placement with use of a navigated surgical drill (ND) and to compare it with navigated manual probe (MP) at C3–C6. Methods47 consecutive patients (27 males and 20 females, 67.2 [33–91] years) underwent a posterior cervical fixation using CPSs under an intraoperative 3D - – CT based navigation system (total 207 CPSs). For initial probing, ND with 2.2-mm steel burr was used since Apr. 2017 (Group ND; 33 patients, 152 CPSs). MP was used earlier (Group MP; 14 patients, 55 CPSs). There were no other different procedures between the two groups. The accuracy of CPS placement was graded with postoperative CT and compared between the two groups. ResultsThere were no significant differences in the total perforation rates both in axial and sagittal planes between Groups ND and MP (axial; 7.2% vs. 14.5%, p = 0.25, sagittal; 10.5% vs. 14.5%, p = 0.46). However, the lateral and rostral perforation rates were significantly reduced in Group ND compared to Group MP (lateral: 36.4% vs. 87.5%, p = 0.04; rostral: 6.3% vs. 100%, p = 0.001). ConclusionAlthough ND did not decrease the total perforation rate significantly, it reduced the incidence of lateral and rostral perforation. ND is likely to make initial probing easier without a forcible manipulation which might cause vertebral rotation.

The accuracy of a novel pedicle screw insertion technique assisted by a special angular scale in the subaxial cervical spine using lateral mass as a reference marker

BackgroundPosterior cervical pedicle screw (CPS) internal fixation has better biomechanical stability than other posterior cervical fixation methods. However, this technique is limited in clinical practice due to the complex anatomical structure and the adjacent relationship of the cervical pedicle, and the high risk of neurovascular injury. The purpose of this study was to describe a novel subaxial CPS insertion technique assisted by a special angular scale using lateral mass as a reference marker and to evaluate the accuracy of CPS placement and the distribution characteristics of CPS misplacement.MethodsA total of 36 patients with subaxial cervical spine diseases who underwent posterior CPS fixation were consecutively selected. The optimal entry point on the posterior surface of the lateral mass was identified on the three-dimensional cervical model reconstructed from preoperative computed tomography (CT) images. The pedicle transverse angle (PTA) and pedicle-lateral mass angle (PLMA) were measured on the transverse and sagittal CT images respectively. The pedicle screws were inserted according to the preoperatively planned entry point and angles. We analysed the postoperative CT images for CPS misplacement rates and perforation directions following the Lee classification.ResultsOverall, 177 pedicle screws were inserted, of which 119 (67.2%) were classified as grade 0, 43 (24.3%) as grade 1, 12 (6.8%) as grade 2 and 3 (1.7%) as grade 3 by the postoperative CT images. The accuracy rate of CPS placement was 91.5%. Of the 15 misplaced pedicle screws (grades 2 and 3), 11 were lateral pedicle perforations, 3 were superior perforations and 1 was an inferior perforation. There were no neurovascular injuries related to CPS misplacement.ConclusionsWith our technique, the optimal entry point and two angles (PTA and PLMA) were identified for CPS insertion. The novel CPS insertion technique assisted by a special angular scale provides high accuracy and few complications.

Accuracy and Safety of Lateral Vertebral Notch-Referred Technique Used in Subaxial Cervical Pedicle Screw Placement.

Biomechanical studies revealed that pedicle screw instrumentation has a superior stabilizing effect compared with other internal fixations in reconstructing the subaxial cervical spine. However, severe neurovascular risks preclude surgeons from routinely conducting pedicle screw manipulation in cervical spine. To evaluate the accuracy and safety of the lateral vertebral notch (LVN)-referred technique used in subaxial cervical pedicle screw (CPS) placement. One hundred thirty-five consecutive retrospective patients with cervical disorders underwent the LVN-referred technique for CPS placements in 3 spine centers. Postoperative pedicle perforations were confirmed by CT scans to assess the technical accuracy. Neurovascular complications derived from CPS misplacements were recorded to evaluate the technical safety. A total of 718 CPSs were inserted into subaxial cervical spine. Postoperative CT scans revealed that the accuracy of CPS placement was superior. Neither vertebral artery injury nor spinal cord injury occurred. One radiculopathy was from a unilateral C6 nerve root compression. A screw-related neurovascular injury rate of 0.7% occurred in this cohort. Additionally, there was no significant difference in the accuracy of CPS placement among 3 surgeons (H=1.460, P=.482). The relative standard deviation values revealed that technical reproducibility was acceptable. Furthermore, there was no significant difference between the patients' pedicle transverse angles and inserted CPS transverse angles from C3 to C7 (all P>.05). The LVN is a reliable and consistent anatomic landmark for CPS placement. The accuracy and safety of subaxial CPS placement by using LVN-referred technique are highly acceptable, which may endow this technique to be practicably performed in selected patients.

Comment on "Cervical pedicle screw instrumentation is reliable with O-arm-based 3D navigation: analysis of cervical pedicle screw placement accuracy with O-arm-based 3D navigation" by S. Chachan et al. (Eur Spine J; 2018: doi: 10.1007/s00586-018-5585-1).

Comment on "Cervical pedicle screw instrumentation is reliable with O-arm-based 3D navigation: analysis of cervical pedicle screw placement accuracy with O-arm-based 3D navigation" by S. Chachan et al. (Eur Spine J; 2018: doi: 10.1007/s00586-018-5585-1).

Correction to: Cervical pedicle screw instrumentation is more reliable with O-arm-based 3D navigation: analysis of cervical pedicle screw placement accuracy with O-arm-based 3D navigation.

Unfortunately, the second author name of the above-mentioned article was incorrectly published in original publication. The complete correct name is given below: Hamid Rahmatullah Bin Abd Razak. The original article has been corrected.

Cervical pedicle screw instrumentation is more reliable with O-arm-based 3D navigation: analysis of cervical pedicle screw placement accuracy with O-arm-based 3D navigation

Despite proven biomechanical superiority and resultant superior clinical outcomes, pedicle instrumentation in cervical spine is not widely practiced due to technical difficulties, steep learning curve, and possible potential catastrophic complications due to screw misplacement. This study was undertaken with the purpose to evaluate the feasibility, accuracy, and complications of cervical pedicle screw instrumentation solely using O-arm-based 3D navigation technology. Prospectively maintained data from a single-surgeon case series were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients had undergone cervical pedicle instrumentation under O-arm 3D navigation. Screw placement accuracy was analyzed and compared among different vertebral levels and also between different patient groups. A total of 241 cervical pedicle screws were inserted in 44 patients. Out of the 241 screws, 197 (81.74%) were inserted at the level of C3-C6 vertebrae with nearly equal distribution among the 4 vertebrae, followed by 32 (13.28%) and 12 (4.98%) screws at C2 and C7 vertebrae, respectively. After the analysis of screw placement as per Gertzbein classification, the overall breach rates were found to be 7.05% (17 screws) with 52.94% (10 screws) Grade I, 47.06% (7 screws) Grade II, and nil Grade III screw breaches. The use of O-arm-based intra-operative 3D scans for navigation can make cervical pedicle screw placement reliable. High accuracy and better intra-operative control can increase surgeon's confidence in using cervical pedicle instrumentation on more regular basis. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.

Surgical safety of cervical pedicle screw placement with computer navigation system

Cervical pedicle screw (CPS) may be the biomechanically best system for posterior cervical segmental fixation, but may carry a surgery-related risk. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of CPS placement using computer navigation system for posterior cervical instrumented fixation and discuss its complication avoidance and management. Posterior cervical instrumented fixation using CPS was performed in a total of 128 patients during the period between 2007 and 2015. Intraoperative image guidance was achieved using a preoperative 3D CT-based or an intraoperative 3D CT-based navigation system. A total of 762 CPSs were placed in the spine level of C2 to Th3. The radiological accuracy of CPS placement was evaluated using postoperative CT. Accuracy of CPS placement using a preoperative 3D CT-based navigation system was 93.6 % (423 of 452 screws) in grade 0; the screw was completely contained in the pedicle, and accuracy of CPS placement using an intraoperative 3D CT-based navigation system was a little bit improved to 97.1 % (301 of 310 screws) in grade 0. CPS misplacement (more than half of screw) was 3.3 % (15 of 452 screws) using a preoperative 3D CT-based navigation system, and CPS misplacement (more than half of screw) was 0.6 % (2 of 310 screws) using an intraoperative 3D CT-based navigation system. In total, 38 screws (5.0 %) were found to perforate the cortex of pedicle, although any neural or vascular complications closely associated with CPS placement were not encountered. Twenty nine of 38 screws (76.3 %) were found to perforate laterally, and seven screws (18.4 %) were found to perforate medially. Image-guided CPS placement has been an important advancement to secure the safe surgery, although the use of CPS placement needs to be carefully determined based on the individual pathology.

Digital navigation enhances cervical pedicle screw placement accuracy and safety: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial

Background: A unified standard for cervical pedicle screw placement does not currently exist; therefore, it is difficult to quantitatively evaluate the clinical effects of the technique. Digital navigation can provide a reference for accurate and safe location, orientation, and placement of cervical pedicle screws. We hypothesized that compared with partial cervical lamina excision or the pipeline-dredge discharge method, digital navigation can greatly increase the accuracy and safety of cervical pedicle screw placement. Methods/Design: This was a prospective, single-center, randomized controlled, open-label trial. Seventy-six patients with cervical spine fracture scheduled to receive treatment in the Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, China were randomly divided into three groups to undergo cervical pedicle screw internal fixation. Patients in the cervical lamina partial excision group ( n = 26, 160 screws) underwent partial cervical lamina excision and cervical pedicle screw internal fixation; those in the pipeline-dredge discharge group ( n = 27, 156 screws) underwent pipeline-dredge discharge and cervical pedicle screw internal fixation; and those in the digital navigation group ( n = 23, 162 screws) underwent digital navigation-assisted cervical pedicle placement. All patients were evaluated at 12 and 36 months. The primary outcome was the percentage of screws graded I when evaluating the penetration degree of the cervical pedicle screws, which evaluates the accuracy of screw placement, 12 months after internal fixation. Secondary outcomes included: (1) the percentage of screws graded I when evaluating the penetration degree of cervical pedicle screws 36 months after internal fixation; (2) bony fusion rate of the atlantoaxial joint, used to evaluate fracture healing, 12 and 36 months after internal fixation; (3) Visual Analogue Scale spine score, used to evaluate cervical neck pain, prior to and 12 and 36 months after internal fixation; (4) American Spinal Injury Association Classification, used to evaluate improvement in neurological function, prior to and 12 and 36 months after internal fixation; and (5) adverse events, used to evaluate the safety of each pedicle screw implantation method, 12 and 36 months after internal fixation. Discussion: This trial protocol compared the effects of three cervical pedicle screw internal fixation methods for the treatment of cervical spine fracture, and investigated and compared the accuracy and safety of digital navigation-assisted cervical pedicle screw placement with partial cervical lamina excision and pipeline-dredge discharge. We hoped to provide quantitative evidence for the clinical use of digital navigation in orthopedics, especially in cervical pedicle screw placement. Trial registration: ClinicalTrial.gov identifier: NCT02880839; registered on 19 August 2016. Ethics: This trial protocol has been approved by Medical Ethics Committee, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, China, and was performed in accordance with the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki , formulated by the World Medical Association. Informed consent: Signed informed consent regarding trial procedure and treatment was obtained from each patient.