• Vishal Sarwahi, Katherine Eigo, Effat Rahman, Sayyida Hasan, Keshin Visahan, Yungtai Lo, Jon-Paul DiMauro, and Terry Amaral.
• Cohen Children's Medical Center, Department of Pediatric Orthopaedics, New Hyde Park, NY.
• Spine. 2025 Jan 20.

Study DesignRetrospective Cohort Study.ObjectiveThis study aimed to compare outcomes in AIS patients that underwent PSF using either freehand with occasional fluoroscopic assistance (FOFA), computer assisted surgery/navigation (CAS), or technique and technology (T&T).Summary Of Background DataPedicle screw insertion in scoliosis is challenging due to abnormal pedicle morphology. Fluoroscopic guidance was frequently utilized, until technological advancements led to the adaptation of computer assisted screw insertion. While improvement in screw accuracy has been documented, an increase in radiation exposure, surgical time, and blood loss can occur. This institution adopted a T&T, or technique and technology, approach that combines freehand technique with CT-based navigation technology for confirmation and navigation for challenging pedicles.MethodsThis was a two-part retrospective review of 573 AIS patients that underwent PSF.Part I: 304 were operated in FOFA. 63 patients were operated on with solely CT-based navigation technology (CAS Group). 206 patients were in T&T. Perioperative outcomes were compared.Part II: 206 T&T patients were compared to 326 AIS patients from the NSQIP database that were operated on using computer-assisted navigation (CAN). Operative time and 30-day complications were compared.All data is presented as medians, IQR, frequencies, and percents. Fisher's Exact, Chi-squared, Kruskal-Wallis, and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used.ResultsFOFA radiation dose was 2.3 mGy and radiation time was 20.4 seconds compared to 22.2 mGy and 21.6 seconds for CAS, and 15.0 mGy and 18.6 seconds for T&T (P<0.001, P<0.001). Operative time was shorter for the T&T patients when compared to FOFA and CAS (P<0.001).Part II: T&T had an operative time of 233.0 minutes compared to 323.0 minutes for CAN (P<0.001).ConclusionT&T optimizes screw accuracy while reducing the increased radiation burden and operative time associated with CAS. The T&T approach incorporates CT-based navigation technology as confirmation, while maintaining surgeon's skill.Copyright © 2025 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

7 keywords...

hide…