Researchers examined 67 patients undergoing minimally invasive placement of lumbar pedicle screws using a navigated, image-guided technique. Electromyography monitoring of lumbar nerve roots was used in all. In one group, 24 patients received a preoperative CT scan merged with intraoperative two-dimensional fluoroscopy images. The second group of 43 patients received intraoperative three-dimensional fluoroscopy images as the source for the guidance.
The rate of pedicle screw misplacement was 6.4 percent in the first group compared to 1.6 percent in the second group. There were no cases of neurologic injury from suboptimal placement of screws. EMG warnings were also lower in the second group.
Read the abstract for “A Comparison of CT-based Navigation Techniques for Minimally Invasive Lumbar Pedicle Screw Placement.”
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