Radiological and clinical differences between robotic-assisted pedicle screw fixation with and without real-time...

Area of Science:

• Spine surgery
• Robotic surgery
• Medical imaging

Background:

• Robotic-assisted surgery is increasingly used in spinal procedures.
• Real-time optical tracking offers potential for enhanced surgical navigation.
• Evaluating the impact of optical tracking on pedicle screw fixation is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare radiological and clinical outcomes of robotic-assisted pedicle screw fixation with and without real-time optical tracking.
• To assess the accuracy and efficiency of two robotic systems in lumbar internal fixation.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 376 patients undergoing lumbar internal fixation from June 2017 to February 2020.
• Patients divided into Tinavi group (with optical tracking) and Renaissance group (without optical tracking).
• Screw implantation accuracy assessed using Rampersaud A-D grade; operative time, fluoroscopic time, and radiation dose were recorded.

Main Results:

• The Tinavi group showed significantly higher accuracy (94.9%-98.7%) for pedicle screw implantation compared to the Renaissance group (91.2%-94.5%).
• Operative time and operative time per screw were lower in the Tinavi group.
• Fluoroscopic time per screw and radiation dose were significantly higher in the Tinavi group.

Conclusions:

• Real-time optical tracking in robotic systems enhances pedicle screw fixation accuracy.
• Robotic systems with optical tracking show significant potential for clinical application in spine surgery.
• Further research is needed to address challenges and optimize the use of optical tracking in robotic surgery.