Abstract
Purpose
To review our experience with robotic guided S2-alar iliac (S2AI) screw placement.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent S2AI fixation with robotic guidance. Screw placement and deviation from the preoperative plan were assessed by fusing preoperative CT (with the planned S2AI screws) to postoperative CT. The software’s measurement tool was used to compare the planned vs. actual screw placements in axial and lateral views, at entry point to the S2 pedicle and at a 30 mm depth at the screws’ mid-shaft, in a resolution of 0.1 mm. Medical charts were reviewed for technical issues and intra-operative complications.
Results
35 S2AI screws were reviewed in 18 patients. The patients’ mean age was 60 years. No intra-operative complications that related to the placement of S2AI screws were reported and robotic guidance was successful in all 35 screws. Post-operative CT scans showed that all trajectories were accurate. No violations of the iliac cortex or breaches of the anterior sacrum were noted. At the entry point, the screw deviated from the pre-operative plan by 3.0 ± 2.2 mm in the axial plane and 1.8 ± 1.6 mm in the lateral plane. At 30 mm depth, the screw deviated from the pre-operative plan by 2.1 ± 1.3 mm in the axial plane and 1.2 ± 1.1 mm in the lateral plane.
Conclusions
Robotic guided S2AI screw placement is feasible and accurate. No screw malpositions or complications that related to the placement of S2AI screws occurred in this series. Larger studies are needed to assess the long-term clinical outcomes of robotic guided sacral-pelvic fixation.
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Acknowledgments
We thank Josh Lieberman for creating the drawing of S2AI screws and Dr. Samuel Bederman for his help with the intra-operative photos.
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Conflict of interest
Xiaobang Hu received a travel support from Mazor Robotics in 2011. Isador H. Lieberman receives royalty, intellectual property rights, consulting fee and ownership interest from Mazor Robotics.
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No funds were received in support of this work. The device that is the subject of this manuscript is FDA-approved for this indication. This study has been approved by Texas Health Resources IRB.
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Hu, X., Lieberman, I.H. Robotic-guided sacro-pelvic fixation using S2 alar-iliac screws: feasibility and accuracy. Eur Spine J 26, 720–725 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-016-4639-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-016-4639-5