From clinical safety to technologies, Becker's reported on four key spine surgery studies since Sept. 30.
1. Minimally invasive spine surgery is touted for its smaller incisions, shorter hospital stays and lower costs. Although there were some complications, the technique remains a safe option, according to a narrative review study published Sept. 30 in Neurospine. Researchers analyzed complications associated with minimally invasive spine surgery. They looked at Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines and studies on adult minimally invasive spine surgery. Out of 880 studies analyzed, 137 were included for a final analysis. Key complications included hematomas, transient nerve root palsy, and dural tears, and complications varied by surgical approach.
2. New spine devices had a reduced recall risk compared to orthopedic devices in general, and some tech didn't have any increase in risk, according to a study in the Nov. 1 issue of Spine. Researchers examined data for spine devices that were FDA-cleared between Jan. 1, 2008, and Dec. 31, 2018. They also analyzed interbody fusion and vertebral body replacement devices as a recall risk factor. A total of 2,384 spine devices were cleared by the FDA through the study period, the study found. The risk of recall after five years was 5.3% and 6.5% after a decade.
3. Spine robots and 3D-navigated technology have been popular among surgeons for pedicle screw placement, but precision can vary between the two across spinal levels, according to a study in the October issue of The Spine Journal. Researchers did a retrospective review of patients having spinal fusion surgery with pedicle screw placement in the prone position with either 3D image navigation only or robotic arm guidance. The study concluded: This study highlights the enhanced accuracy of robotic arm-guided systems compared to 3D navigation for pedicle screw placement in lumbar fusion surgeries, especially at the L3, L4, and L5 levels. However, at the S1 level, both systems exhibit similar effectiveness, underscoring the importance of understanding each system's specific advantages for optimization of surgical complications.
4. Radiation exposure during minimally invasive oblique lateral lumbar interbody fusion with dual C-arm intraoperative imaging met safety standards, according to an Oct. 20 study in Cureus. The study measured radiation exposure from 121 surgeries over 12 months across four locations. Average radiation exposure per surgery and variations across the sites were measured. There was an average radiation emission of 198.78 milligray per surgery, and the surgeon received about 0.06 millisieverts of radiation per surgery. Cumulative doses for the surgeon were below the safety thresholds set by European and American standards.