Clinical experiences in neuronavigation

Improved Accuracy of Minimally Invasive Transpedicular Screw Placement in the Lumbar Spine With 3-Dimensional Stereotactic Image Guidance: A Comparative Meta-Analysis

STUDY DESIGN

This study compares the accuracy rates of lumbar percutaneous pedicle screw placement (PPSP) using either 2-dimensional (2-D) fluoroscopic guidance or 3-dimensional (3-D) stereotactic navigation in the setting of minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS). This represents the largest single-operator study of its kind and first comprehensive review of 3-D stereotactic navigation in the setting of MISS.

OBJECTIVE

To examine differences in accuracy of lumbar pedicle screw placement using 2-D fluoroscopic navigation and 3-D stereotaxis in the setting of MISS.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Surgeons increasingly rely upon advanced image guidance systems to guide minimally invasive PPSP. Three-dimensional stereotactic navigation with intraoperative computed tomography offers well-documented benefit in open surgical approaches. However, the utility of 3-D stereotaxis in the setting of MISS remains incompletely explored by few studies with limited patient numbers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 599 consecutive patients underwent minimally invasive lumbar PPSP aided by 3-D stereotactic navigation. Postoperative imaging and medical records were analyzed for patient demographics, incidence and degree of pedicle breach, and other surgical complications. A total of 2132 screw were reviewed and compared with a meta-analysis created from published data regarding the placement of 4248 fluoroscopically navigated pedicle screws in the setting of MISS.

RESULTS

In the 3-D navigation group, a total of 7 pedicle breaches occurred in 6 patients, corresponding to a per-person breach rate of 1.15% (6/518) and a per-screw breach rate of 0.33% (7/2132). Meta-analysis comprised of data from 10 independent studies showed overall breach risk of 13.1% when 2-D fluoroscopic navigation was utilized in MISS. This translates to a 99% decrease in odds of breach in the 3-D navigation technique versus the traditional 2-D-guided technique, with an odds ratio of 0.01, (95% confidence interval, 0.01-0.03), P<0.001.

CONCLUSIONS

Three-dimensional stereotactic navigation based upon intraoperative computed tomography imaging offers markedly improved accuracy of percutaneous lumbar pedicle screw placement when used in the setting of MISS.

Pedicle screw navigation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of perforation risk for computer-navigated versus freehand insertion

Object

In this paper the authors' goal was to compare the accuracy of computer-navigated pedicle screw insertion with nonnavigated techniques in the published literature.

Methods

The authors performed a systematic literature review using the National Center for Biotechnology Information Database (PubMed/MEDLINE) using the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms “Neuronavigation,” “Therapy, computer assisted,” and “Stereotaxic techniques,” and the text word “pedicle.” Included in the meta-analysis were randomized control trials or patient cohort series, all of which compared computer-navigated spine surgery (CNSS) and nonassisted pedicle screw insertions. The primary end point was pedicle perforation, while the secondary end points were operative time, blood loss, and complications.

Results

Twenty studies were included for analysis; of which there were 18 cohort studies and 2 randomized controlled trials published between 2000 and 2011. Foreign-language papers were translated. The total number of screws included was 8539 (4814 navigated and 3725 nonnavigated). The most common indications for surgery were degenerative disease, spinal deformity, myelopathy, tumor, and trauma. Navigational methods were primarily based on CT imaging. All regions of the spine were represented. The relative risk for pedicle screw perforation was determined to be 0.39 (p < 0.001), favoring navigation. The overall pedicle screw perforation risk for navigation was 6%, while the overall pedicle screw perforation risk was 15% for conventional insertion. No related neurological complications were reported with navigated insertion (4814 screws total); there were 3 neurological complications in the nonnavigated group (3725 screws total). Furthermore, the meta-analysis did not reveal a significant difference in total operative time and estimated blood loss when comparing the 2 modalities.

Conclusions

There is a significantly lower risk of pedicle perforation for navigated screw insertion compared with nonnavigated insertion for all spinal regions.

Magnetically guided 3-dimensional virtual neuronavigation for neuroendoscopic surgery: technique and clinical experience

OBJECTIVE

The authors have developed a novel intraoperative neuronavigation with 3-dimensional (3D) virtual images, a 3D virtual navigation system, for neuroendoscopic surgery. The present study describes this technique and clinical experience with the system.

METHODS

Preoperative imaging data sets were transferred to a personal computer to construct virtual endoscopic views with image segmentation software. An electromagnetic tracker was used to acquire the position and orientation of the tip of the neuroendo-scope. Virtual endoscopic images were interlinked to an electromagnetic tracking system and demonstrated on the navigation display in real time. Accuracy and efficacy of the 3D virtual navigation system were evaluated in a phantom test and on 5 consecutive patients undergoing neuroendoscopic surgery.

RESULTS

Virtual navigation views were consistent with actual endoscopic views and trajectory in both phantom testing and clinical neuroendoscopic surgery. Anatomic structures that can affect surgical approaches were adequately predicted with the virtual navigation system. The virtual semitransparent view contributed to a clear understanding of spatial relationships between surgical targets and surrounding structures. Surgical procedures in all patients were performed while confirming with virtual navigation. In neurosurgery with a flexible neuroscope, virtual navigation also demonstrated anatomic structures in real time.

CONCLUSION

The interactive method of intraoperative visualization influenced the decision-making process during surgery and provided useful assistance in identifying safe approaches for neuroendoscopic surgery. The magnetically guided navigation system enabled navigation of surgical targets in both rigid and flexible endoscopic surgeries.

Magnetically Guided Neuronavigation of Flexible Instruments in Shunt Placement, Transsphenoidal Procedures, and Craniotomies

Objective:

Magnetically guided neuronavigation of flexible instruments is a new tool that can be used in the frameless navigation of deep-seated lesions or shunt placements. Disadvantages of optical systems such as the line-of-sight problem, the necessity of rigid pin fixation of the head, and missing tracking of the tip of flexible instruments should be solved by the new tracking system. Until now, the accuracy of magnetically guided systems was mostly estimated in laboratory setups.

Methods:

In this study, intraoperative accuracy of the system was tested in 60 patients with either hydrocephalus or cranial base tumors. In daily routine use, different operative setups with a variety of metallic instruments were examined. Accuracy of the neuronavigation system was estimated, comparing microscopically or endoscopically identified anatomic landmarks with neuronavigated data and postoperative computed tomographic scans.

Results:

The main advantage of the new system is the tracking of a magnetic coil at the tip of a flexible instrument. After an initial learning curve during the developmental phase of the system, the latter showed reliable accuracy values with no operative setups leading to mismatch of more than 2 mm.

Conclusion:

Tracking of flexible instruments was easily accomplished as the tip of the instrument was followed within the patient's head. There were no major interferences with other metallic instruments within the surgical field.