Comparative Cohort Study of Percutaneous Pedicle Screw Implantation without Versus with Navigation in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Degenerative Lumbar Disc Disease

Comparison of major spine navigation platforms based on key performance metrics: a meta-analysis of 16,040 screws

PURPOSE

The objective of this meta-analysis is to compare available computer-assisted navigation platforms by key performance metrics including pedicle screw placement accuracy, operative time, neurological complications, and blood loss.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted using major databases for articles comparing pedicle screw accuracy of computer-assisted navigation to conventional (freehand or fluoroscopy) controls via post-operative computed tomography. Outcome data were extracted and pooled by random-effects model for analysis.

RESULTS

All navigation platforms demonstrated significant reduction in risk of breach, with Stryker demonstrating the highest accuracy compared to controls (OR 0.16 95% CI 0.06 to 0.41, P < 0.00001, I2 = 0%) followed by Medtronic. There were no significant differences in accuracy or most surgical outcome measures between platforms; however, BrainLab demonstrated significantly faster operative time compared to Medtronic by 30 min (95% CI - 63.27 to - 2.47, P = 0.03, I2 = 74%). Together, there was significantly lower risk of major breach in the navigation group compared to controls (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.27-0.63, P < 0.0001, I2 = 56%).

CONCLUSIONS

When comparing between platforms, Stryker demonstrated the highest accuracy, and Brainlab the shortest operative time, both followed by Medtronic. No significant difference was found between platforms regarding neurologic complications or blood loss. Overall, our results demonstrated a 60% reduction in risk of major breach utilizing computer-assisted navigation, coinciding with previous studies, and supporting its validity. This study is the first to directly compare available navigation platforms offering insight for further investigation and aiding in the institutional procurement of platforms. LEVEL 3 EVIDENCE: Meta-analysis of Level 3 studies.

Percutaneous Versus Open Pedicle Screw Fixation for Pyogenic Spondylodiscitis of the Thoracic and Lumbar Spine: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

STUDY DESIGN

A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE

This meta-analysis aimed to compare percutaneous (PPS) versus open pedicle screw (OPS) fixation for treatment of thoracic and lumbar spondylodiscitis.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Pyogenic spondylodiscitis of the thoracic and lumbar spine can produce instability, deformity, and/or neurological compromise. When medical treatment is unsuccessful, surgical treatment is indicated, with the conventional open approach the usual standard of care. However, percutaneous techniques can be advantageous in medically vulnerable patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A literature search was performed using the PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, looking for comparative articles on pyogenic spondylodiscitis requiring surgical stabilization with pedicle screws. This systematic review is reported according to PRISMA guidelines.

RESULTS

From 215 articles initially identified, 7 retrospective studies were analyzed, encapsulating an overall sample of 722 patients: 405 male (56.1%) and 317 female (43.9%). The treatment modality was PPS fixation in 342 patients (47.4%) and OPS fixation in 380 (52.6%). For PPS, operating time was 29.75 minutes ( P <0.0001), blood loss 390.18 mL ( P <0.00001), postoperative pain 1.54 points ( P <0.00001), and length of stay 4.49 days ( P =0.001) less than with OPS fixation, and wound infection 7.2% ( P =0.003) less frequent. No difference in screw misplacement ( P =0.94) or loosening ( P =0.33) rates was observed.

CONCLUSION

Employing PPS fixation to treat pyogenic spondylodiscitis of the thoracic and lumbar spine is associated with significantly reduced operating time, blood loss, postoperative pain, length of stay, and rates of wound infection than OPS fixation, with no difference between the 2 treatments in rates of screw misplacement or screw loosening.

Comparing radiation dose of image-guided techniques in lumbar fusion surgery with pedicle screw insertion; A systematic review

Background Context

Fluoroscopic devices can be used to visualize subcutaneous and osseous tissue, a useful feature during pedicle screw insertion in lumbar fusion surgery. It is important that both patient and surgeon are exposed as little as possible, since these devices use potential harmful ionizing radiation.

Purpose

This study aims to compare radiation exposure of different image-guided techniques in lumbar fusion surgery with pedicle screw insertion.

Study Design

Systematic review.

Methods

Cochrane, Embase, PubMed and Web of Science databases were used to acquire relevant studies. Eligibility criteria were lumbar and/or sacral spine, pedicle screw, mGray and/or Sievert and/or mrem, radiation dose and/or radiation exposure. Image-guided techniques were divided in five groups: conventional C-arm, C-arm navigation, C-arm robotic, O-arm navigation and O-arm robotic. Comparisons were made based on effective dose for patients and surgeons, absorbed dose for patients and surgeons and exposure. Risk of bias was assessed using the 2017 Cochrane Risk of Bias tool on RCTs and the Cochrane ROBINS-I tool on NRCTs. Level of evidence was assessed using the guidelines of Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine 2011.

Results

A total of 1423 studies were identified of which 38 were included in the analysis and assigned to one of the five groups. Results of radiation dose per procedure and per pedicle screw were described in dose ranges. Conventional C-arm appeared to result in higher effective dose for surgeons, higher absorbed dose for patients and higher exposure, compared to C-arm navigation/robotic and O-arm navigation/robotic. Level of evidence was 3 to 4 in 29 studies. Risk of bias of RCTs was intermediate, mostly due to inadequate blinding. Overall risk of bias score in NRCTs was determined as 'serious'.

Conclusions

Ranges of radiation doses using different modalities during pedicle screw insertion in lumbar fusion surgery are wide. Based on the highest numbers in the ranges, conventional C-arm tends to lead to a higher effective dose for surgeons, higher absorbed dose for patients and higher exposure, compared to C-arm-, and O-arm navigation/robotic. The level of evidence is low and risk of bias is fairly high. In future studies, heterogeneity should be limited by standardizing measurement methods and thoroughly describing the image-guided technique settings.

Surface Navigation and the Influence of Navigation on MIS Surgery

STUDY DESIGN

Literature review.

OBJECTIVES

To review the evidence for surface-based navigation in minimally-invasive spine surgery (MIS), provide an outline for its workflow, and present a wide range of MIS case examples in which surface-based navigation may be advantageous.

METHODS

A comprehensive review of the literature and compilation of findings related to surface-based navigation in MIS was performed. Workflow and case examples utilizing surface-based navigation were described.

RESULTS

The nascent literature regarding surface-based intraoperative navigation (ION) in spine surgery is encouraging and initial studies have shown that surface-based navigation can allow for accurate pedicle screw placement and decreased operative time, fluoroscopy time, and radiation exposure when compared to traditional fluoroscopic imaging. Surface-based navigation may be particularly useful in MIS cervical and lumbar decompressions and MIS lumbar instrumentation cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, it is possible that surface-based ION will become a mainstay in the armamentarium of enabling technologies utilized by minimally-invasive spine surgeons, but further studies are needed assessing its accuracy, complications, and cost-effectiveness.

Does MIS-TLIF or TLIF result in better pedicle screw placement accuracy and clinical outcomes with navigation guidance?

Background

Although previous studies have suggested that navigation can improve the accuracy of pedicle screw placement, few studies have compared navigation-assisted transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) and navigation-assisted minimally invasive TLIF (MIS-TLIF). The entry point of pedicle screw insertion in navigation-assisted MIS-TLIF (NM-TLIF) may deviate from the planned entry point due to an uneven bone surface, which may result in misplacement. The purpose of this study was to explore the pedicle screw accuracy and clinical consequences of MIS-TLIF and TLIF, both under O-arm navigation, to determine which surgical method is better.

Methods

A retrospective study of 54 patients who underwent single-segment NM-TLIF or navigation-assisted TLIF (N-TLIF) was conducted. In addition to the patients’ demographic characteristics, intraoperative indicators and complications, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and visual analog scale (VAS) score were recorded and analyzed preoperatively and at the 1-, 6-, and 12-month and final postoperative follow-ups. The clinical qualitative accuracy and absolute quantitative accuracy of pedicle screw placement were assessed by postoperative CT. Multifidus muscle injury was evaluated by T2-weighted MRI.

Results

Compared with N-TLIF, NM-TLIF was more advantageous in terms of the incision length, intraoperative blood loss, drainage volume, time to ambulation, length of hospital stay, blood transfusion rate and analgesia rate (P < 0.05). The ODI and VAS scores for low back pain were better than those of N-TLIF at 1 month and 6 months post-surgery (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the clinical qualitative screw placement accuracy (97.3% vs. 96.2%, P > 0.05). The absolute quantitative accuracy results showed that the axial translational error, sagittal translational error, and sagittal angle error in the NM-TLIF group were significantly greater than those in the N-TLIF group (P < 0.05). The mean T2-weighted signal intensity of the multifidus muscle in the NM-TLIF group was significantly lower than that in the N-TLIF group (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Compared with N-TLIF, NM-TLIF has the advantages of being less invasive, yielding similar or better screw placement accuracy and achieving better symptom relief in the midterm postoperative recovery period. However, more attention should be given to real-time adjustment for pedicle insertion in NM-TLIF rather than just following the entry point and trajectory of the intraoperative plan.

Computed Tomography-Based Navigation System in Current Spine Surgery: A Narrative Review

The number of spine surgeries using instrumentation has been increasing with recent advances in surgical techniques and spinal implants. Navigation systems have been attracting attention since the 1990s in order to perform spine surgeries safely and effectively, and they enable us to perform complex spine surgeries that have been difficult to perform in the past. Navigation systems are also contributing to the improvement of minimally invasive spine stabilization (MISt) surgery, which is becoming popular due to aging populations. Conventional navigation systems were based on reconstructions obtained by preoperative computed tomography (CT) images and did not always accurately reproduce the intraoperative patient positioning, which could lead to problems involving inaccurate positional information and time loss associated with registration. Since 2006, an intraoperative CT-based navigation system has been introduced as a solution to these problems, and it is now becoming the mainstay of navigated spine surgery. Here, we highlighted the use of intraoperative CT-based navigation systems in current spine surgery, as well as future issues and prospects.

Time-demand, Radiation Exposure and Outcomes of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery With the Use of Skin-Anchored Intraoperative Navigation: The Effect of the Learning Curve

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective review.

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to evaluate the learning curve of skin-anchored intraoperative navigation (ION) for minimally invasive lumbar surgery.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

ION is increasingly being utilized to provide better visualization, improve accuracy, and enable less invasive procedures. The use of noninvasive skin-anchored trackers for navigation is a novel technique, with the few reports on this technique demonstrating safety, feasibility, and significant reductions in radiation exposure compared with conventional fluoroscopy. However, a commonly cited deterrent to wider adoption is the learning curve.

METHODS

Retrospective review of patients undergoing 1-level minimally invasive lumbar surgery was performed. Outcomes were: (1) time for ION set-up and image-acquisition; (2) operative time; (3) fluoroscopy time; (4) radiation dose; (5) operative complications; (6) need for repeat spin; (7) incorrect localization.Chronologic case number was plotted against each outcome. Derivative of the nonlinear curve fit to the dataset for each outcome was solved to find plateau in learning.

RESULTS

A total of 270 patients [114 microdiscectomy; 79 laminectomy; 77 minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MI-TLIF)] were included. (1) ION set-up and image-acquisition: no learning curve for microdiscectomy. Proficiency at 23 and 31 cases for laminectomy and MI-TLIF, respectively. (2) Operative time: no learning curve for microdiscectomy. Proficiency at 36 and 31 cases for laminectomy and MI-TLIF, respectively. (3) Fluoroscopy time: no learning curve. (4) Radiation dose: proficiency at 42 and 33 cases for microdiscectomy and laminectomy, respectively. No learning curve for MI-TLIF. (5) Operative complications: unable to evaluate for microdiscectomy and MI-TLIF. Proficiency at 29 cases for laminectomy. (6) Repeat spin: unable to evaluate for microdiscectomy and laminectomy. For MI-TLIF, chronology was not associated with repeat spins. (7) Incorrect localization: none.

CONCLUSIONS

Skin-anchored ION did not result in any wrong level surgeries. Learning curve for other parameters varied by surgery type, but was achieved at 25-35 cases for a majority of outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III.

Technique, Time Demand, Radiation Exposure, and Outcomes of Skin-anchored Intraoperative 3D Navigation in Minimally Invasive Posterior Cervical Laminoforaminotomy

STUDY DESIGN

This was a retrospective review.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to describe our technique and evaluate the time demand, radiation exposure, and outcomes of minimally invasive posterior cervical laminoforaminotomy (MI-PCLF) using skin-anchored intraoperative navigation (ION).

BACKGROUND

Although bone-anchored trackers are most commonly used for ION, a novel technique utilizing noninvasive skin-anchored trackers has recently been described for lumbar surgery and has shown favorable results. There are currently no reports on the use of this technology for cervical surgery.

METHODS

Time demand, radiation exposure, and perioperative outcomes of MI-PCLF using skin-anchored ION were evaluated.

RESULTS

Twenty-one patients with 36 operative levels were included. Time for ION setup and operative time were a median of 34 and 62 minutes, respectively. Median radiation to the patient was 2.5 mGy from 10 seconds of fluoroscopy time. Radiation exposure to operating room personnel was negligible because they are behind a protective lead shield during ION image acquisition. There were no intraoperative complications or wrong-level surgeries. One patient required a repeat ION spin, and in 2 patients, ION was abandoned and standard fluoroscopy was used.

CONCLUSIONS

Skin-anchored ION for MI-PCLF is feasible, safe, and accurate. It results in short operative times, minimal complications, low radiation to the patient, and negligible radiation to operating room personnel.

Safety and Efficacy of All-In-One Percutaneous Pedicle Screw System

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective study of the prospectively collected outcomes data.

OBJECTIVE

The indications for PPS placement during minimally invasive spine stabilization (MISt) procedures have increased in recent years. To the best of our knowledge, no studies have documented the outcomes of PPS insertion using the all-in-one PPS system. This study compared the conventional methods and the use of all-in-one percutaneous pedicle screw (PPS) system with respect to the speed and accuracy of PPS placement. We also determined the advantages associated with the use of the all-in-one PPS system.

METHODS

We evaluated 54 patients who underwent PPS insertion using the conventional method and the all-in-one PPS system during MISt procedures. We also assessed the number of implanted PPSs, the time taken to implant PPSs, and the accuracy of PPS placement based on postoperative computed tomography images.

RESULTS

A total of 254 PPSs were inserted (126 using the conventional method and 128 using the all-in-one PPS system). The PPS insertion time with the all-in-one PPS system (mean, 25.3 ± 9.1 s) was significantly shorter than that using the conventional method (mean, 63.1 ± 13.0 s; P < 0.01). With respect to the accuracy of PPS insertion, ≥ 2 mm pedicle breach was noted in one case each in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

PPS placement using the all-in-one PPS system is as safe as conventional methods and has the potential to save the surgical time of MISt procedures.

A review of computer-assisted orthopaedic surgery systems

BACKGROUND

Computer-assisted orthopaedic surgery systems have great potential, but no review has focused on computer-assisted surgery systems for the spine, hip, and knee.

METHODS

A systematic search was performed in Web of Science and PubMed. We searched the literature on computer-assisted orthopaedic surgery systems from 2008 to the present and focused on three aspects of systems: training, planning, and intraoperative navigation.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In this review study, we reviewed 34 surgical training systems, 31 surgical planning systems, and 41 surgical navigation systems. The functions and characteristics of the surgical systems were compared and analysed, and the current concerns about and the impact of the surgical systems on doctors and surgery were clarified.

CONCLUSION

Computer-assisted orthopaedic surgery systems are still in the development stage. Future surgical training systems should include synthetic models with patient anatomy. Surgical planning systems with automatic planning should be developed, and surgical navigation systems with multimodal fusion, robotic assistance and imaging should be developed.

A Review of Techniques, Time Demand, Radiation Exposure, and Outcomes of Skin-anchored Intraoperative 3D Navigation in Minimally Invasive Lumbar Spinal Surgery

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort.

OBJECTIVE

To describe our technique for and evaluate the time demand, radiation exposure and outcomes of skin-anchored intraoperative three-dimensional navigation (ION) in minimally invasive (MIS) lumbar surgery, and to compare these parameters to 2D fluoroscopy for MI-TLIF.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Limited visualization of anatomic landmarks and narrow access corridor in MIS procedures result in greater reliance on image guidance. Although two-dimensional fluoroscopy has historically been used, ION is gaining traction.

METHODS

Patients who underwent MIS lumbar microdiscectomy, laminectomy, or MI-TLIF using skin-anchored ION and MI-TLIF by the same surgeon using 2D fluoroscopy were selected. Operative variables, radiation exposure, and short-term outcomes of all procedures were summarized. Time-demand and radiation exposure of fluoroscopy and ION for MI-TLIF were compared.

RESULTS

Of the 326 patients included, 232 were in the ION cohort (92 microdiscectomies, 65 laminectomies, and 75 MI-TLIFs) and 94 in the MI-TLIF using 2D fluoroscopy cohort. Time for ION setup and image acquisition was a median of 22 to 24 minutes. Total fluoroscopy time was a median of 10 seconds for microdiscectomy, 9 for laminectomy, and 26 for MI-TLIF. Radiation dose was a median of 15.2 mGy for microdiscectomy, 16.6 for laminectomy, and 44.6 for MI-TLIF, of this, 93%, 95%, and 37% for microdiscectomy, laminectomy, and MI-TLIF, respectively were for ION image acquisition, with the rest attributable to the procedure. There were no wrong-level surgeries. Compared with fluoroscopy, ION for MI-TLIF resulted in lower operative times (92 vs. 108 min, P < 0.0001), fluoroscopy time (26 vs. 144 s, P < 0.0001), and radiation dose (44.6 vs. 63.1 mGy, P = 0.002), with equivalent time-demand and length of stay. ION lowered the radiation dose by 29% for patients and 55% for operating room personnel.

CONCLUSION

Skin-anchored ION does not increase time-demand compared with fluoroscopy, is feasible, safe and accurate, and results in low radiation exposure.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3.

Computer Navigation in Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The goal of the review is to discuss the common general applications of navigation in the context of minimally invasive spine surgery and assess its value in the published literature comparing against non-navigated or navigated techniques.

RECENT FINDINGS

There is increasing utilization of computer navigation in minimally invasive spine surgery. There is synergy between navigation and minimally invasive technologies, such that one enhances or facilitates the other, thus leading to wider applications for both. Specifically, navigation has been shown to improve performance of percutaneous pedicle screw placement, vertebral augmentation, and minimally invasive fusion procedures. Overall, clinical studies have shown better accuracy and less radiation exposure with the use of navigation in spine surgery. The use of navigation in minimally invasive spine surgery enhances the accuracy of instrumentation and decreases radiation exposure. It is yet to be determined whether patient-reported outcomes will differ. Further research on its effect on clinical outcomes may further define the future impact of navigation in minimally invasive spine surgery.

Evaluation of surgeon and patient radiation exposure by imaging technology in patients undergoing thoracolumbar fusion: systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Minimally invasive spine techniques are becoming increasingly popular owing to their ability to reduce operative morbidity and recovery times. The downside to these new procedures is their need for intraoperative radiation guidance.

PURPOSE

To establish which technologies provide the lowest radiation exposure to both patient and surgeon.

STUDY DESIGN/SETTING

Systematic review OUTCOME MEASURES: Average intraoperative radiation exposure (in mSv per screw placed) to surgeon and patient. Average fluoroscopy time per screw placed.

METHODS

We reviewed the available English medical literature to identify all articles reporting patient and/or surgeon radiation exposure in patients undergoing image-guided thoracolumbar instrumentation. Quantitative meta-analysis was performed for studies providing radiation exposure or fluoroscopy use per screw placed to determine which navigation modality was associated with the lowest intraoperative radiation exposure. Values on meta-analysis were reported as mean ± standard deviation.

RESULTS

We identified 4956 unique articles, of which 85 met inclusion/exclusion criteria. Forty-one articles were included in the meta-analysis. Patient radiation exposure per screw placed for each modality was: conventional fluoroscopy without navigation (0.26±0.38 mSv), conventional fluoroscopy with pre-operative CT-based navigation (0.027±0.010 mSv), intraoperative CT-based navigation (1.20±0.91 mSv), and robot-assisted instrumentation (0.04±0.30 mSv). Values for fluoroscopy used per screw were: conventional fluoroscopy without navigation (11.1±9.0 seconds), conventional fluoroscopy with navigation (7.20±3.93 s), 3D fluoroscopy (16.2±9.6 s), intraoperative CT-based navigation (19.96±17.09 s), and robot-assistance (20.07±17.22 s). Surgeon dose per screw: conventional fluoroscopy without navigation (6.0±7.9 × 10^-3 mSv), conventional fluoroscopy with navigation (1.8±2.5 × 10^-3 mSv), 3D Fluoroscopy (0.3±1.9 × 10^-3 mSv), intraoperative CT-based navigation (0±0 mSv), and robot-assisted instrumentation (2.0±4.0 × 10^-3 mSv).

CONCLUSION

All image guidance modalities are associated with surgeon radiation exposures well below current safety limits. Intraoperative CT-based (iCT) navigation produces the lowest radiation exposure to surgeon albeit at the cost of increased radiation exposure to the patient relative to conventional fluoroscopy-based methods.

Current state of minimally invasive spine surgery

Over the past two decades, minimally invasive surgical approaches have become increasingly feasible, efficient and popular for the management of a wide range of spinal disorders, with a growing body of research demonstrating numerous advantages of these techniques over the traditional open approach. In this article, we review the technologies and innovations that are expanding the horizon of minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS), and highlight high-quality peer-reviewed literature in the past year that expands our knowledge and understanding of indications, advantages and limitations of MISS.

Decreasing radiation dose with FluoroLESS Standalone Anterior Cervical Fusion

Background

Radiation dose continues to be a concern especially in the field of spine surgery, where anterior and posterior instrumentation is frequently utilized to treat multiple pathologies. The authors aim to demonstrate the feasibility of decreasing the radiation dose in standalone anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).

Methods

Standalone ACDF (S-ACDF) with 48 consecutive patients (Group 1) with a comparison control group with ACDF with an anterior cervical plate (ACP) of 49 patients (Group 2). Fluoroscopy was performed for positioning, identification of level, placement of the implant, each screw, final AP and lateral images for the first 20 patients in Group 1. Screw placement could then be performed confidently based on cosine rule of cosine (Ѳ) = adj/hyp.

Results

Forty-eight patients in Group 1 (S-ACDF) and 49 patients in Group 2 (ACDF-ACP). Statistical significance not demonstrated for age, BMI or gender, P=0.691, 0.947 and 0.286 respectively. Mean radiation dose in group 1 of 17.9±6.6 mAs and 0.8±0.3 mSv was significantly less compared to group 2 which was 29.8±5.4 and 1.3±0.2 mSv, P<0.001. The average radiation dose for single-level fusion in Group 1 was 12.5±3.5 mAs and 0.5±0.1 mSv this is compared to Group 2 of 27.8±3.9 mAs and 1.2±0.2 mSv, P=0.001. The average radiation dose for two level fusion in Group 1 was 22.2±5.1 mAs and 0.9±0.2 mSv this is compared to Group 2 of 33.9±6.0 and 1.4±0.3 mSv, P=0.001.

Conclusions

In the outpatient setting, S-ACDF has shown a statistically significant intergroup difference in overall radiation dose, as well as single and two-level fusions, (P<0.001). We conclude that S-ACDF can decrease overall radiation exposure to patients.

Safety and accuracy of spinal instrumentation surgery in a hybrid operating room with an intraoperative cone-beam computed tomography

Although spinal instrumentation technique has undergone revolutionary progress over the past few decades, it may still carry significant surgery-related risks. The purpose of the present study was to assess the radiological accuracy of spinal screw instrumentation using a hybrid operating room (OR) and quantify the related radiation exposure. This retrospective study included 33 cases of complex spine fusion surgeries that were conducted using a hybrid OR with a flat panel detector (FPD) angiography system. Twelve cases (36.4%) were cervical, and 21 (63.6%) were thoracolumbar. The average number of spine fusion levels was 3 and 4.8, respectively, at the cervical and thoracolumbar spine levels. A FPD angiography system was used for intraoperative cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) to obtain multi-slice spine images. All operations were conducted under optimized radiation shielding. Entrance surface doses (ESDs) and exposure times were recorded in all cases. A total of 313 screws were placed. Satisfactory screw insertion could be achieved in all cases with safe screw placement in 97.4% and acceptable placement in 2.6%. None of the cases showed any significant anatomical violation by the screws. The radiation exposure to the patients was absolutely consistent with the desired ESD value, and that to the surgeons, under the annual dose limit. These results suggest that the hybrid OR with a FPD angiography system is helpful to achieve safe and precise spinal fusion surgery, especially in complex cases.