[Application of a new point contact pedicle navigation template as an auxiliary screw implant in scoliosis correction surgery].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effectiveness of a new point contact pedicle navigation template (referred to as "new navigation template" for simplicity) in assisting screw implantation in scoliosis correction surgery.

METHODS

Twenty-five patients with scoliosis, who met the selection criteria between February 2020 and February 2023, were selected as the trial group. During the scoliosis correction surgery, the three-dimensional printed new navigation template was used to assist in screw implantation. Fifty patients who had undergone screw implantation with traditional free-hand implantation technique between February 2019 and February 2023 were matched according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria as the control group. There was no significant difference between the two groups ( >0.05) in terms of gender, age, disease duration, Cobb angle on the coronal plane of the main curve, Cobb angle at the Bending position of the main curve, the position of the apical vertebrae of the main curve, and the number of vertebrae with the pedicle diameter lower than 50%/75% of the national average, and the number of patients whose apical vertebrae rotation exceeded 40°. The number of fused vertebrae, the number of pedicle screws, the time of pedicle screw implantation, implant bleeding, fluoroscopy frequency, and manual diversion frequency were compared between the two groups. The occurrence of implant complications was observed. Based on the X-ray films at 2 weeks after operation, the pedicle screw grading was recorded, the accuracy of the implant and the main curvature correction rate were calculated.

RESULTS

Both groups successfully completed the surgeries. Among them, the trial group implanted 267 screws and fused 177 vertebrae; the control group implanted 523 screws and fused 358 vertebrae. There was no significant difference between the two groups ( >0.05) in terms of the number of fused vertebrae, the number of pedicle screws, the pedicle screw grading and accuracy, and the main curvature correction rate. However, the time of pedicle screw implantation, implant bleeding, fluoroscopy frequency, and manual diversion frequency were significantly lower in trial group than in control group ( <0.05). There was no complications related to screws implantation during or after operation in the two groups.

CONCLUSION

The new navigation template is suitable for all kinds of deformed vertebral lamina and articular process, which not only improves the accuracy of screw implantation, but also reduces the difficulty of operation, shortens the operation time, and reduces intraoperative bleeding.