[CT and fluoroscopy based navigation in pelvic surgery]

Navigation procedures based upon CT data were introduced into spine surgery in 1994. Since then the method has been used in other areas, such as joint replacement, reconstructive surgery and tumor surgery, because of its high precision and reduced radiation exposure. The original CT-based spine module can be adapted for pelvic surgery with the prerequisite, that the positioning of the fragments is identical in CT and at operation; otherwise, a new data set has to be acquired. The experience with CT-based navigation in pelvic surgery will be explained in the context of five percutaneous screw fixations and three tumor resections. The technique will be described. The fluoroscopy-based navigation has been used in trauma surgery since the late 1990 s. Since than the method has gained wide acceptance in the field of joint replacement and reconstructive surgery as well. Between June 2000 and December 2002 we performed 36 percutaneous screw fixations in the pelvis with postoperative X-ray and CT control. Thirty five of the 36 screws were placed correctly. In one screw an anterior cortex perforation of the sacrum was seen on CT, but without neurological consequences. Based upon our clinical experience we believe that CT-based navigation is indicated in screw fixations for minimally displaced pelvic injuries or dysplasia and, with increasing importance, in tumor surgery. Fluoroscopy based navigation with adequate image quality is the method of choice for SI screw fixations in traumatic or degenerative instabilities, especially if an update of the images is needed.