Development and Testing of a Novel Stabilizer Clamp to Reduce Motion During Instrumented Cervical Fusions: The...

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery and Biomedical Engineering
• Spinal Instrumentation and Navigation Technology

Background:

• Accurate registration of local anatomy to navigation software is critical for spinal instrumentation.
• Cervical spine navigation accuracy is historically limited by anatomical mobility.
• A novel stabilizer clamp was developed to address motion and improve navigated instrumentation accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and test a novel cranial stabilization system.
• To evaluate the system's effectiveness in reducing cervical spine motion.
• To assess the impact of the system on navigated instrumentation accuracy.

Main Methods:

• Cadaveric specimens were tested on flat-top and Jackson tables with a Mayfield clamp.
• Anteroposterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) forces were applied to assess displacement.
• The novel cranial stabilization system (Caption device) was applied, and displacement was re-measured.

Main Results:

• The Caption cranial stabilizer significantly reduced AP motion by 45%-53% and ML motion by 69%-92% (P < 0.05).
• Reductions in motion were consistent across both testing tables.
• The system reduced deflections by 45% AP and 69% ML when compared to no stabilization.

Conclusions:

• A supplementary cranial stabilization system significantly reduces cranial motion compared to a Mayfield clamp alone.
• Increased cranial and cervical stability may reduce malposition of navigated instrumentation.
• The system offers potential benefits in minimally invasive surgery and precise cervical pedicle screw placement.