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Updated: Jun 29, 2025
Cone Beam Intraoperative Computed Tomography-based Image Guidance for Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Interbody Fusion
Published on: August 6, 2019
Comparative surgical outcomes of navigated vs non-navigated posterior spinal fusions in ankylosing spondylitis
Harry Marland1, Jake M McDonnell2, Lauren Hughes3
1School of Medicine, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland.
Introduction:
Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) patients with acute spinal fractures represent a challenge for practicing spine surgeons due to difficult operative anatomy and susceptibility to complications.
Research Question:
Does intraoperative CT-navigation improve outcomes in patients with ankylosing spondylitis undergoing surgery?
Methods:
A retrospective review was carried out at our centre from 05/2016-06/2021 to identify AS patients presenting with a traumatic spinal fracture, managed surgically with posterior spinal fusion (PSF). Cohorts were categorised and compared for outcomes based on those who underwent PSF with intraoperative CT-navigation versus those surgically managed with traditional intraoperative fluoroscopy.
Results:
37 AS patients were identified. 29/37 (78.4%) underwent PSF. Intraoperative navigation was used in 14 (48.3%) cases. Mean age of the entire cohort was 67.6 years. No difference existed between the navigated and non-navigated groups for mean levels fused (5.35 vs 5.07; p = 0.31), length of operation (217.9mins vs 175.3mins; p = 0.07), overall length-of-stay (12 days vs 21.9 days; p = 0.16), patients requiring HDU (3/14 vs 5/15; p = 0.09) or ICU (5/14 vs 9/15; p = 0.10), postoperative neurological improvement (1/14 vs 1/15; p = 0.48) or deterioration (1/14 vs 0/15; p = 0.15), intraoperative complications (2/14 vs 3/15; p = 0.34), postoperative complications 4/14 vs 4/15; p = 0.46), revision surgeries (3/14 vs 1/15; p = 0.16) and 30-day mortality (0/14 vs 0/15).
Conclusion:
This is the first study that compares surgical outcomes of navigated vs non-navigated PSFs for AS patients with an acute spinal fracture. Although limited by its retrospective design and sample size, this study highlights the non-inferiority of intraoperative navigation as a surgical aid in a challenging cohort.
