A new study published in Spine examined complex cervical spine surgery using pedicle screws inserted with Stealth Navigation and three-dimensional image-guided O-arm technology.
There were 21 patients who underwent surgery with cervical pedicle screws using O-Arm and Stealth Navigation between November 2011 and January 2014. There were 121 pedicle screws placed using Stealth Navigation.
The researchers found:
1. There were six screws placed per case on average.
2. The screws were placed with more than 99 percent safety without neurovascular injury. There was one screw that postoperatively critically breached the medial wall and was associated with an acute C5 nerve root palsy.
3. There were two patients who needed postoperative iatrogenic foraminal stenosis associated with C8 radiculopathies.
4. There weren't any vascular complications from aberrant screw placement.
5. The researchers reported significant improvement in EQ-5D utility scores and neck and arm pain. Neck Disability Index scores decreased by 10 points on average.