Intraoperative Computed Tomography–Guided Navigation for Pediatric Spine Patients Reduced Return to Operating Room for Screw Malposition Compared With Freehand/Fluoroscopic Techniques

ConclusionPatients with pedicle screws placed with CT-guided navigation had a lower rate of severely malpositioned screws and unplanned returns to the OR. There was no significant difference in blood loss or operative time when controlling for number of levels fused.SignificanceIn the era of health care “never-events,” return to OR for screw malposition could certainly be deemed unacceptable. Use of intraoperative CT-guided navigation thus far eliminated return to OR for screw malposition in a complex cohort of pediatric spinal deformity patients, without measurable increase in operative time or blood loss.
Source: Spine Deformity - Category: Orthopaedics Source Type: research