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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
A Spine Robotic-Assisted Navigation System for Pedicle Screw Placement
Published on: May 11, 2020
Image-guided spinal surgery
1Department of Neurosurgery, David Geffen UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. lholly@mednet.ucla.edu
Background:
The purpose of this review is to present a comprehensive summary of commonly used methods of spinal image guidance, including the benefits and limitations of this novel technology.
Methods:
The relevant medical literature was examined, supplemented by the author's laboratory and clinical experience with image-guided spinal surgery.
Results:
Spinal image guidance has undergone significant evolution and rapid technological advancement in recent years. Image guidance provides three-dimensional visualization of the spine that can be used for preoperative planning and intraoperative navigation. There are three commonly used methods of spinal image guidance: preoperative CT-based, fluoroscopy-based, and 3D fluoroscopy. Each of these methods demonstrates lower rates of spinal implant misplacement than non-image-guided techniques.
Conclusions:
Image guidance provides highly accurate intraoperative navigation and the medical literature suggests that this technology increases the safety of a variety of routine and complex spinal procedures.
