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Updated: May 24, 2025
Intraoperative Ultrasound in Spinal Surgery
Published on: August 17, 2022
Safety and efficacy of ultrasonic bone scalpel compared with a high-speed drill in spinal surgery: our experience in
Utku Özgen1, Ahmet Tulgar Başak2, Mehdi Hekimoğlu2
1Amerikan Hastanesi, Istanbul, Turkey. drutkuozgn@gmail.com.
Purpose:
In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of UBS (Ultrasonic Bone Scalpel) and HSD (High-speed drill) for performing anterior or posterior decompressions in patients with pathologies in cervical and lumbar regions.
Methods:
Between October 2022 and June 2024, 60 patients underwent surgery in which a UBS (Sonopet UST-2001; Stryker Neuro Spine ENT, MI, USA) and High-speed Midas Rex MR8 (Medtronic, Fort Worth, TX, USA) drill was used. Informed consent was obtained from all patients. The study included 27 men and 33 women with a mean age of 59,5 ± 14.6 years (range: 28-85). The following patient data were recorded: preoperative and postoperative JOA scores, intraoperative blood loss, and operative time for decompression in lumbar and cervical region.
Results:
In UBS group, the mean intraoperative blood loss was 166.0 ± 64.3 ml. The mean preoperative and postoperative JOA scores were 4.5 ± 1.0 and 8.6 ± 1.8 and the mean postoperative follow-up duration was 6.1 ± 4.4 months in UBS group. The mean intraoperative blood loss was 221.2 ± 93.4 ml in HSD group. The mean preoperative and postoperative JOA scores were 5.2 ± 1.1 and 8.2 ± 1.2 in HSD group. In the HSD group, the blood loss (BL) value was significantly higher (p < 0.05) compared to the UBS group. The preoperative/postoperative JOA score improvement in the UBS group was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in the HSD group.
Conclusions:
The UBS can be safely used in spinal surgery. It reduces intraoperative blood loss and provide better clinical improvement. Authors would like to emphasize that the UBS resects the bone with oscillatory movements rather than rolling motions and this mechanism of action is important in reducing the risk of dura mater injury.
