Two-dimensional virtual fluoroscopy is an acceptable option for percutaneous placement of pedicle screws, according to an article published in Spine.
The MIS-2D-CAS technique was used to place pedicle screws in 41 patients undergoing minimally invasive interbody instrumented fusion. The patients were examined postoperatively using CT scans.
There were no neurologic, vascular or visceral injuries in the patients. Screws breached the pedicle 23 percent of the time, and 83.8 percent of the breaches were graded II. There were five Grade III and Grade IV breaches. Twelve percent of the pedicle screws had trajectories that deviated from "acceptable."
Fluoroscopy time for screw placement was typically less than 20 seconds per case, and there was one clinically significant breach in the L5 which resulted in radiculopathy. The researchers concluded that although the technique is acceptable, it requires cautious application and is vulnerable to axial trajectory errors.
Read the abstract for "Clinical Accuracy of Computer-Assisted Two-Dimensional Fluorosocpy for the Percutaneous Placement of Lumbosacral Pedicle Screws."
Read other coverage on spine surgery:
- Study Shows Minimally Invasive Surgery Effective for Elderly Patients
- Study Outlines the Advantages of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial: Surgery Better for Appropriately Indicated Patients
The MIS-2D-CAS technique was used to place pedicle screws in 41 patients undergoing minimally invasive interbody instrumented fusion. The patients were examined postoperatively using CT scans.
There were no neurologic, vascular or visceral injuries in the patients. Screws breached the pedicle 23 percent of the time, and 83.8 percent of the breaches were graded II. There were five Grade III and Grade IV breaches. Twelve percent of the pedicle screws had trajectories that deviated from "acceptable."
Fluoroscopy time for screw placement was typically less than 20 seconds per case, and there was one clinically significant breach in the L5 which resulted in radiculopathy. The researchers concluded that although the technique is acceptable, it requires cautious application and is vulnerable to axial trajectory errors.
Read the abstract for "Clinical Accuracy of Computer-Assisted Two-Dimensional Fluorosocpy for the Percutaneous Placement of Lumbosacral Pedicle Screws."
Read other coverage on spine surgery:
- Study Shows Minimally Invasive Surgery Effective for Elderly Patients
- Study Outlines the Advantages of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial: Surgery Better for Appropriately Indicated Patients