Intraoperative Navigation in Cervical Spine Surgery

Background/Objectives: Intraoperative navigation is predominantly utilized in thoracolumbar spine surgeries; however, its application in cervical procedures has swiftly increased in prevalence. Despite the growing prevalence of these systems, there is a paucity of scholarly publications that address the historical development, delineate the fields of application, and discuss the benefits and drawbacks of this growingly prevalent technology in cervical spine surgery. Our aim was to provide a succinct summary of the history of cervical spine navigation systems, zones of implementation, associated advantages and disadvantages, and recommendations for future improvements. Methods: We conducted an extensive literature review focusing on the evolution and application of intraoperative navigation technology in cervical spine surgery. The research sources included peer-reviewed journals indexed in PubMed, data from clinical trials, and case studies that examined various navigation systems, with particular emphasis on the latest intraoperative navigation technologies. Results: In addition to facilitating minimally invasive approaches in cervical spine surgery, intraoperative navigation systems have been successfully employed in various decompression procedures, corpectomies, and tumor excisions. The accurate and safe placement of implants has been significantly enhanced in all cervical spine fixation techniques, particularly in those requiring high precision, such as occipital condyle, odontoid, transarticular, and translaminar screw fixations. However, technical difficulties, increased radiation exposure to patients, and high costs remain significant challenges that must be addressed. Conclusions: Intraoperative navigation systems in cervical spine surgery have demonstrated efficacy across various cervical spine procedures, offering additional advantages in facilitating minimally invasive approaches. However, the technical challenges associated with their use, which impact accuracy, as well as increased radiological exposure and cost, represent significant drawbacks that warrant attention in future research.