Novel Machine Vision Image Guidance System Significantly Reduces Procedural Time and Radiation Exposure Compared With...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Surgical Navigation
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Intraoperative 2D fluoroscopy is standard for pediatric spinal deformity correction but exposes staff to harmful radiation.
• Investigating alternative navigation systems to reduce radiation exposure is crucial for surgical staff safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare intraoperative fluoroscopy time and radiation exposure between 2D fluoroscopy and a machine vision image guidance system (MvIGS).
• To evaluate the impact of MvIGS on surgical outcomes in pediatric spinal deformity correction.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of pediatric patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion (2018-2021).
• Comparison of 2D fluoroscopy navigation versus MvIGS.
• Analysis of intraoperative fluoroscopy time, radiation dose (DAP, cumulative air kerma), and operative time.

Main Results:

• MvIGS reduced fluoroscopy time by 68% (18.6s vs 58.5s) and radiation exposure by 66%.
• Operative time was significantly reduced by an average of 63.6 minutes with MvIGS.
• No significant differences were observed in patient demographics or surgical complexity between the two groups.

Conclusions:

• MvIGS offers a significant reduction in intraoperative radiation exposure and fluoroscopy time in pediatric spinal surgery.
• The system also leads to a substantial decrease in total surgical time.
• MvIGS shows promise in mitigating radiation risks for surgeons and operating room personnel.