Abstract
The application of navigation-assisted surgery for spinal instrumentation is reported. Fifteen procedures, including C1-2 transarticular screw fixation, posterior fusion with podicle screw fixation, and posterior lumbar interbody cage fixation, were performed in the preceding 15 months. In each case, a navigation system was used to select the proper screw size and to determine the appropriate orientation for the instrumentation. There were no intraoperative complications noted. The system increased the accuracy of spinal instrumentation and decreased the risk of neurovascular injury. In cases of spondylolytic spondylolisthesis, the probe error after registration was relatively large due to instability. The development of navigation guidance has improved the accuraccy of spinal instrumentation, because a multidimensional view of the anatomic relationships of the actual surgery is provided.
