Protocol for Electrical Conductivity Signal Collection and Processing in Scoliosis Surgery

Pedicle screw placement is a common procedure in spinal surgery. The misplacement rate with lateral and medial cortical perforation is 5-11%. Several techniques are used to decrease this rate. Many studies proved that electrical conductivity increases accuracy during pedicle screw placement but no study has interpreted conductivity values.

The data are collected from patients operated for scoliosis in a single university hospital. After the posterior surgical approach is made, each pedicle is prepared classically. Instead of the classic curved pedicle probe, the surgeon uses a probe with the same shape that measures the conductivity at its tip. Conductivity values are recorded through a Bluetooth application. Each pedicle trajectory is then qualified after manual palpation with a feeler. A trajectory is qualified as optimal when palpation shows a bone tunnel without any breach, breached when there was a breach, and a modification of the probe direction was needed. A trajectory that does not meet the abovementioned definitions is excluded from the statistical analysis.

21 patients with 457 pedicles are recorded. The average age of the population is 14.71 ± 1.86 years. 17 patients (81%) have idiopathic adolescent scoliosis. One patient has Rett syndrome, one has hypotonia, one has cerebral palsy, and one has congenital malformation. The depth of the instrument is measured semiautomatically. This technique is validated when compared with the manual technique using the Bland-Altman agreement method (mean differences = -0.279 mm, upper limit = 2.2 mm, and lower limit = -2.7 mm) and Deming regression (slope = 1.06 ± 0.004).

This study establishes a protocol to collect electrical conductivity signals in spine surgery with synchronization to the depth of the instrument. Real-time conductivity signal feedback alerts the surgeon of a probable breach in the spinal canal, so he can change the direction of the pedicle aim.