Image-Guided Spinal Surgery

What is Image-Guided Technology for Spinal Surgery?

A virtual three-dimensional mapping system that combines CT scans of a patient's anatomy and real-time information about the exact position of surgical instruments using infrared signals.
It helps surgeons navigate their surgical instruments around the spine more accurately while minimizing patient trauma.
Image-guided surgery is a rapidly expanding area of medical technology for the spine.

How does Navigation Work?

Before surgery, the patient undergoes a series of CT scans that reveal the soft tissue and bony structures in and around the spine.
With CT scans, stored as slices, the computer builds a 3-D model of the patient's spine. This model can be used by the surgeon to plan the details of the surgery including the number, size and location of implants.
In the operating room, the surgeon uses Smart Active instruments to match defined points on the 3-D computer model to the patient's true anatomy. The computer uses these points to correlate the position of the patient in real-time with the computer generated 3-D model to create a digital map of the spine.
Specific surgical instruments with imbedded LEDs have been designed for surgical procedures. The wireless Smart Active instruments give the surgeon complete control from the sterile field due to remote control features on each instrument.
During surgery, monitors display the 3-D model of the patient's spine as well as any pre-planned locations for implants. This can save valuable time in the OR by not having to determine these locations intraoperatively.
A specially designed camera tracks the movement of the Smart Active instruments and displays real-time images of the instruments on the 3-D model during surgery. The computer also mathematically compensates for any patient movement, which allows the surgeon to pinpoint the location of the surgical instrumentation and the patient anatomy at all times.

What are the Potential Benefits of Navigation?

The surgeon can view surgical instruments in relation to critical anatomy, such as the spinal cord, nerves and arteries. The ability to work precisely may reduce the risk of spinal injury during surgery and may allow more complicated techniques not possible without this technology.
The use of the equipment to pre-plan the operation, such as determining the size and location of screws to be implanted, saves valuable time and uncertainty in the OR.
Image-guidance may increase a surgeon's confidence in difficult cases, especially in revision cases where the patient's anatomy may be changed from previous operations.

Who has the Potential to Benefit from Navigation?

The use of image-guidance technology in all types of spinal surgery is rapidly growing. Spinal fusion surgeries alleviating pain resulting from injury, degenerative disk disease, spinal curvatures or arthritis are the most common navigated surgeries. Most people who undergo spinal fusion surgery can have significant reduction in pain and an improvement in performing the common activities of daily living.

How can an individual learn more about the Stryker Navigation System?

Individuals who would like to learn more about the Stryker Navigation System or other Stryker products, can go online to www.stryker.com/navigation.