Percutaneous pedicle screw placement with computer-navigated mapping in place of Kirschner wires: clinical article

Accuracy of K-Wireless Insertion of Percutaneous Pedicle Screws Using Computer-Assisted Spinal Navigation: A Systematic Review and Single-Center Experience

OBJECTIVE

This study sought to 1) describe the use K-wireless pedicle screw insertion among adults (age ≥18 years) undergoing a minimally invasive fusion and 2) perform a systematic review (SR) of all studies that describe a navigated, K-wireless technique with 3-dimensional fluoroscopy.

METHODS

Patients undergoing a minimally invasive fusion requiring pedicle screw fixation for any indication were prospectively enrolled in the observational component of this study. An assessment of pedicle breach was performed independently and in duplicate based on a modification of the Belmont grading scale. Articles for the SR were identified from a structured search of Medline from inception to May 8, 2019, without restriction of language.

RESULTS

A total of 82 pedicle screws were placed in 20 patients who underwent surgery between January and June 2014. There was no significant difference in mean operative time between the cases included in this study and a matched cohort of 20 patients undergoing surgery with 2-dimensional fluoroscopy and K-wire-assisted pedicle screw placement (95 ± 13 vs. 87 ± 20 minutes, respectively; P > 0.05). There were 2 major pedicle breaches (Belmont grade 3) in a single patient, yielding a major breach rate of 2.44%. A total of 6 papers that described the placement of 700 pedicle screws in 160 patients between May 2011 and March 2017 were included in the SR. The overall breach rate was 7.00% (n = 37).

CONCLUSIONS

Percutaneous pedicle screws can be placed accurately and safely using 3-dimensional navigation without the use of K-wires and may confer benefits to patients and clinicians by reducing K-wire-associated complications and radiation exposure.

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.

The Use of Bone Morphogenetic Protein in the Intervertebral Disk Space in Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion: 10-year Experience in 688 Patients

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective Cohort.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to characterize one surgeon's experience over a 10-year period using rhBMP-2 in the disk space for minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS TLIF).

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

MIS TLIF has been utilized as a technique for decreasing patients' immediate postoperative pain, decreasing blood loss, and shortened hospital stays. Effectiveness and complications of rhBMP-2's use in the disk space is limited because of its off-label status.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of consecutive MIS TLIFs performed by senior author between 2004 and 2014. rhBMP-2 was used in the disk space in all cases. Patients were stratified based on the dose of rhBMP-2 utilized. Patients had 9 to 12 month computerized tomography scan to evaluate for bony fusion and continued follow-up for 18 months.

RESULTS

A total of 688 patients underwent a MIS TLIF. A medium kit of rhBMP-2 was utilized in 97 patients, and small kit was used in 591 patients. Fusion rate was 97.9% and this was not different between the 2 groups with 96/97 patients fusing in the medium kit group and 577/591 patients fusing in the small kit group. Five patients taken back to the operating room for symptomatic pseudoarthrosis, 4 reoperated for bony hyperostosis, and 10 radiographic pseudoarthroses that did not require reoperation. A statistically significant difference in the rate of foraminal hyperostosis was found when using a medium sized kit of rhBMP-2 was 4.12% (4/97 patients), compared with a small kit (0/591 patients, P=0.0004).

CONCLUSIONS

Utilization of rhBMP-2 in an MIS TLIF leads to high fusion rate (97.9%), with an acceptable complication profile. The development of foraminal hyperostosis is a rare complication that only affected 0.6% of patients, and seems to be a dose related complication, as this complication was eliminated when a lower dose of rhBMP-2 was utilized.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV.

Percutaneous screw placement in the lumbar spine with a modified guidance technique based on 3D CT navigation system

Several guidance techniques have been employed to increase accuracy and reduce surgical time during percutaneous placement of pedicle screws (PS). The purpose of our study was to present a modified technique for percutaneous placement of lumbar PS that reduces surgical time. We reviewed 23 cases of percutaneous PS placement using our technique for minimally invasive lumbar surgeries and 24 control cases where lumbar PS placement was done via common technique using Jamshidi needles (Becton, Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA). An integrated computer-guided navigation system was used in all cases. In the technique modification, a handheld drill with a navigated guide was used to create the path for inserting guidewires through the pedicles and into the vertebral bodies. After drill removal, placement of the guidewires through the pedicles took place. The PS were implanted over the guidewires, through the pedicles and into the vertebral bodies. Intraoperative computed tomography was performed after screw placement to ensure optimal positioning in all cases. There were no intraoperative complications with either technique. PS placement was correct in all cases. The average time for each PS placement was 6.9 minutes for the modified technique and 9.2 minutes for the common technique. There was no significant difference in blood loss. In conclusion, this modified technique is efficient and contributes to reduced operative time.

Percutaneous pedicle screw placement under single dimensional fluoroscopy with a designed pedicle finder-a technical note and case series

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Minimally invasive spine surgery has become increasingly popular in clinical practice, and it offers patients the potential benefits of reduced blood loss, wound pain, and infection risk, and it also diminishes the loss of working time and length of hospital stay. However, surgeons require more intraoperative fluoroscopy and ionizing radiation exposure during minimally invasive spine surgery for localization, especially for guidance in instrumentation placement. In addition, computer navigation is not accessible in some facility-limited institutions.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to demonstrate a method for percutaneous screws placement using only the anterior-posterior (AP) trajectory of intraoperative fluoroscopy.

STUDY DESIGN

A technical report (a retrospective and prospective case series) was carried out.

PATIENT SAMPLE

Patients who received posterior fixation with percutaneous pedicle screws for thoracolumbar degenerative disease or trauma comprised the patient sample.

METHOD

We retrospectively reviewed the charts of consecutive 670 patients who received 4,072 pedicle screws between December 2010 and August 2015. Another case series study was conducted prospectively in three additional hospitals, and 88 consecutive patients with 413 pedicle screws were enrolled from February 2014 to July 2016. The fluoroscopy shot number and radiation dose were recorded. In the prospective study, 78 patients with 371 screws received computed tomography at 3 months postoperatively to evaluate the fusion condition and screw positions.

RESULTS

In the retrospective series, the placement of a percutaneous screw required 5.1 shots (2-14, standard deviation [SD]=2.366) of AP fluoroscopy. One screw was revised because of a medialwall breach of the pedicle. In the prospective series, 5.8 shots (2-16, SD=2.669) were required forone percutaneous pedicle screw placement. There were two screws with a Grade 1 breach (8.6%), both at the lateral wall of the pedicle, out of 23 screws placed at the thoracic spine at T9-T12. Forthe lumbar and sacral areas, there were 15 Grade 1 breaches (4.3%), 1 Grade 2 breach (0.3%), and 1 Grade 3 breach (0.3%). No revision surgery was necessary.

CONCLUSION

This method avoids lateral shots of fluoroscopy during screw placement and thus decreases the operation time and exposes surgeons to less radiation. At the same time, compared with the computer-navigated procedure, it is less facility-demanding, and provides satisfactory reliability and accuracy.

Significant reduction of fluoroscopy repetition with lumbar localization system in minimally invasive spine surgery: A prospective study

The conventional location methods for minimally invasive spinal surgery (MISS) were mainly based on repeated fluoroscopy in a trial-and-error manner preoperatively and intraoperatively. Localization system mainly consisted of preoperative applied radiopaque frame and intraoperative guiding device, which has the potential to minimize fluoroscopy repetition in MISS. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a novel lumbar localization system in reducing radiation exposure to patients.Included patients underwent minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MISTLIF) or percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED). Patients treated with novel localization system were regarded as Group A, and patients treated without novel localization system were regarded as Group B.For PTED, The estimated effective dose was 0.41 ± 0.13 mSv in Group A and 0.57 ± 0.14 mSv in Group B (P < .001); the fluoroscopy exposure time of PTED was 22.18 ± 7.30 seconds in Group A and 30.53 ± 7.56 seconds in Group B (P < .001); The estimated cancer risk of radiation exposure was 22.68 ± 7.38 (10) in Group A and 31.20 ± 7.96 (10) in Group B (P < .001). For MISTLIF, the estimated effective dose was 0.45 ± 0.09 mSv in Group A and 0.58 ± 0.09 mSv in Group B (P < .001); The fluoroscopy exposure time was 25.41 ± 5.52 seconds in Group A and 32.82 ± 5.03 seconds in Group B (P < .001); The estimated cancer risk was 24.90 ± 5.15 (10) in Group A and 31.96 ± 5.04 (10) in Group B (P < .001). There were also significant differences in localization time and operation time between the 2 groups either for MISTLIF or PTED.The lumbar localization system could be a potential protection strategy for minimizing radiation hazards.

[Intraoperative 3D imaging in spinal surgery]

BACKGROUND

Intraoperative imaging during spinal interventions has experienced significant developments over the last two decades. By the introduction of flat screen detectors, 3D imaging has been made possible and easier and by developing compact and mobile systems computed tomography can even be used in the operating theater.

OBJECTIVE

Presentation of modern intraoperative 3D imaging and navigation in spinal surgery.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The techniques of intraoperative 3D imaging and navigation during spinal procedures are presented based on the currently available literature and own experiences at a German national spine and trauma center.

RESULTS

The use of flat panel detectors and the possibility of 3D visualization nowadays substantially facilitate the use of navigation and allow certain control of surgical results even during the intervention. Radiation exposure of the whole team in the operating theater can be significantly reduced by the new techniques.

CONCLUSION

The advantages of intraoperative 3D imaging with a clear improvement of visualization for spinal surgeons and the certain control of materials at the end of the operation are obvious. Even the use of navigation has been greatly simplified and can therefore lead to an even greater precision and less radiation exposure. There are even more sophisticated developments, such as operation suites and intraoperative computed tomography but these are initially reserved for selected centers.

Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery with Intraoperative Image-Guided Navigation

We present our perioperative minimally invasive spine surgery technique using intraoperative computed tomography image-guided navigation for the treatment of various lumbar spine pathologies. We present an illustrative case of a patient undergoing minimally invasive percutaneous posterior spinal fusion assisted by the O-arm system with navigation. We discuss the literature and the advantages of the technique over fluoroscopic imaging methods: lower occupational radiation exposure for operative room personnel, reduced need for postoperative imaging, and decreased revision rates. Most importantly, we demonstrate that use of intraoperative cone beam CT image-guided navigation has been reported to increase accuracy.

Spinal Navigation and Imaging: History, Trends, and Future

The clinical practice of spine navigation has rapidly grown with the development of image-based guidance. In this paper, a brief history of spinal navigation is presented and a review of clinical outcomes for 12,622 pedicle screws placed using the latest technology in the sacral, lumbar and thoracic regions. The clinical evidence demonstrate that intraoperative 3D image guided surgery has a 96.8% success rate. A concluding section detailing existing barriers that limit more widespread adoption and future development efforts is presented.