Navigation Endoscopic Assisted Tumor (NEAT) surgery for benign bone tumors of the extremities

A novel technique of using both a navigation system and an endoscope in intra-lesional curettage of benign bone tumors enables safe and adequate tumor removal via a minimal access approach. We performed curettage of benign bone tumors in five consecutive patients (4 female, 1 male, mean age 31.4 years) using a commercial CT-based navigation system supplemented by visual guidance through a shoulder arthroscope. The bone defect was filled with bone cement in four patients and with artificial bone substitute in one patient. Mean follow-up time was 8.8 months (range: 7-12 months). Mean duration of surgery was 144 min (range: 120-165 min). Mean wound length of each portal site was 19.5 mm (range: 15-25 mm). All patients could achieve a full range of joint movement and walk unaided at 4 weeks post-surgery. No local recurrence was noted.