Surface Navigation and the Influence of Navigation on MIS Surgery

Abstract

Study Design:

Literature review.

Objectives:

To review the evidence for surface-based navigation in minimally-invasive spine surgery (MIS), provide an outline for its workflow, and present a wide range of MIS case examples in which surface-based navigation may be advantageous.

Methods:

A comprehensive review of the literature and compilation of findings related to surface-based navigation in MIS was performed. Workflow and case examples utilizing surface-based navigation were described.

Results:

The nascent literature regarding surface-based intraoperative navigation (ION) in spine surgery is encouraging and initial studies have shown that surface-based navigation can allow for accurate pedicle screw placement and decreased operative time, fluoroscopy time, and radiation exposure when compared to traditional fluoroscopic imaging. Surface-based navigation may be particularly useful in MIS cervical and lumbar decompressions and MIS lumbar instrumentation cases.

Conclusions:

Overall, it is possible that surface-based ION will become a mainstay in the armamentarium of enabling technologies utilized by minimally-invasive spine surgeons, but further studies are needed assessing its accuracy, complications, and cost-effectiveness.

Keywords

fusion discectomy decompression lumbosacral spinal navigation computer assisted navigation minimally invasive surgery cervical intraoperative navigation skin-anchored tracker

Introduction

Minimally-invasive spine surgery (MIS) has become increasingly prevalent in recent years because of decreased tissue damage, length of stay, and complication rates when compared to traditionally open spine surgery.^1,2 These advantages do come at a cost, however. MIS procedures involve narrow access corridors and limited visualization of anatomical landmarks, which leads to an increased dependence on intra-operative imaging.³ This imaging has historically taken the form of 2D fluoroscopy, which provides limited information and leads to significant radiation exposure for both patients and surgeons.^4-6 Intraoperative 3D navigation (ION) is an alternative to fluoroscopy that provides real-time feedback without requiring repeated radiation exposures, however, it too has traditionally carried certain drawbacks.

The majority of ION systems rely on bone-anchored trackers,^7-10 which require the attachment of reference clamps to bony landmarks such as a spinous process or the pelvis. This often necessitates additional incisions and soft tissue disruption, while also placing additional instruments within the surgeon’s working zone. Surgeons are then forced to work around the reference clamps, and if they are accidentally bumped or dislodged, an entirely new registration scan may be required. In response to these disadvantages, surface-based ION has been introduced. Surface-based navigation is inherently non-invasive and need not interfere with the working zone of a given procedure. While surface-anchored ION systems have numerous advantages, accuracy can be compromised if a patient’s position changes intraoperatively, or large incisions are used which can alter skin tension. Surface-based ION is a relatively novel concept in MIS and few studies to-date have been published describing its accuracy, time-demand, radiation exposure, and outcomes.^11-14

Surface-based navigation is useful for the full spectrum of MIS procedures, ranging from tubular decompressions to multi-level fusions. Bone-anchored systems are rarely used in non-instrumented procedures because the invasiveness required for setup is disproportionate to the inherent invasiveness of the surgeries themselves, however this is not the case with surface-based ION. In this article we will perform a literature review on utilization of surface-based navigation in MIS, discuss the operating room setup and workflow for surface-based ION, and highlight its potential utility across a wide range of MIS procedures.

Literature Review Search Methodology

A systematic query was developed to search PUBMED, COCHRANE, and EMBASE to identify published studies that reported on surface-based or skin-based navigation for spine surgery. Articles that described intraoperative use of surface-based navigation in spine surgery and reported outcomes such as accuracy, operative time, and radiation exposure were included in the literature review. The cutoff date for studies considered for inclusion was April 8, 2021. This search was conducted using supplementary combinations of search terms including: “skin,” “surface,” “navigation,” “spine,” “spinal,” “lumbar” and “cervical.” A title, abstract, and keyword search yielded 167 articles. Duplicate articles were removed and only articles with English full-texts available were included.

Two investigators independently reviewed each Title and Abstract for the inclusion/exclusion criteria (Table 1) and selected “Yes,” “No,” or “Maybe” as the first level of selection. The same two investigators then performed a full-text review of the articles that were included after the title and abstract review. Any conflicts at each stage were discussed between the two investigators who performed the initial review in order to reach a consensus. If no consensus was reached, a third independent reviewer was consulted. This process matches the recommendations Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocols.

Table 1.

Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria.

Component	Inclusion	Exclusion
Population	Patients undergoing spine surgery for all conditions
Intervention	Intraoperative use of surface-based (or skin-anchored, or skin-adhesive) navigation	Non-surgical intervention
Comparison	None (single-arm study)
Outcomes	Outcomes including but not limited to Operative time Radiation exposure Accuracy of pedicle screw placement Fluoroscopy time
Study/Publication type	Database: PubMed \| EMBASE \| Cochrane Library Studies published or translated into English	Reviews Conference abstracts Non-clinical studies (e.g. cadaveric, animal-model, biomechanical or other laboratory studies) Case reports with <10 patients

Literature Review Results

Eight articles were included after full-text review, and their significant findings are summarized (Table 2). Malham and Parker in 2018, examined the accuracy of percutaneous pedicle screw placement in 45 consecutive patients who underwent lumbar fusion with the aid of the SpineMask® and without the use of K-wires.¹¹ The SpineMask is a single-use, battery-powered skin-adhesive stereotactic tracker that utilizes light-emitting diode (LED) technology for tracking and integrates with the SpineMap 3D software to generate an intraoperative 3D image (Figure 1). The SpineMap software is compatible with a variety of intra-operative imaging devices for automatic registration. The study by Malham and Parker reported that 7% of screws required revision, and that all those screws were able to be revised using the SpineMask®. Screws placed through Wiltse incisions had the highest revision rate (33%), those placed through midline incisions had a 12% revision rate, and those placed through percutaneous stab incisions only had a 4% revision rate. Post-operative computed tomography (CT) imaging revealed a 3% pedicle screw breach rate, however no patients had associated neurological deficits or required reoperations. Overall, the authors concluded that percutaneous pedicle screw placement with surface-based ION is highly accurate. A study by Lin et al in 2019 demonstrated similarly high accuracy, in which approximately 96% of both skin-based versus bone-anchored navigation guided pedicle screws were accurately placed during MIS-TLIF.¹⁵

Table 2.

Summary of Findings.

Study	Sample size; treatment; study design	Outcomes
Study	Sample size; treatment; study design	Accuracy	Fluoroscopy time/ radiation exposure	Operative time	Navigation system set-up time
Vaishnav et al 2021¹⁶	270 patients; single-level minimally invasive lumbar microdiscectomy (n = 114), laminectomy (n = 79), or TLIF (n = 77); Retrospective, single-surgeon	Not reported	Median Fluoroscopy time for microdiscectomy, laminectomy, and TLIF were 10, 9, and 25 seconds respectively. Radiation dose was 14.6, 15.75, and 47.0 mGy respectively for these three procedures. There was no learning curve for fluoroscopy time for any of the procedures. For radiation exposure, there was no learning curve for TLIF, but for microdiscectomy and laminectomy, proficiency was not reached until 42 and 33 cases were performed, respectively.	Median operative time for microdiscectomy, laminectomy, and TLIF were 41.5, 51, and 88 minutes respectively. There was no learning curve for microdiscectomy, but for laminectomy and TLIF, proficiency was reached at 36 and 31 cases, respectively.	Median navigation set-up time for microdiscectomy, laminectomy, and TLIF were 22, 23, and 25 minutes respectively. There was no learning curve for microdiscectomy, but for laminectomy and TLIF, proficiency was reached at 23 and 31 cases, respectively.
Klingler et al 2020¹⁷	62 patients; percutaneous pedicle screw placement (n = 54) and kyphoplasty (n = 8); Retrospective, single-center	Not reported	3D image data set needed for skin-adhesive mask has lower fluoroscopy time but requires more images, resulting in 2.25 higher radiation exposure compared to standard small-volume 3D scan.	Not reported	Not reported
Burström et al 2020¹⁸	20 patients; spine surgery with pedicle screw placement for scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, kyphosis, degenerative disc/stenosis; retrospective	Using adhesive skin markers as a reference frame, there is no statistically significant difference in accuracy of pedicle screws across multiple levels away from index vertebrae. The accuracy is independent of where in the surgical field pedicle screws are placed.	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Lin et al 2019¹⁵	101 patients divided into bone (n = 54) or skin-fixed (n = 47) groups; minimally invasive TLIF at various levels from L2-S1; prospective randomized clinical study	For pedicle screws placed using bone-fixed vs skin-fixed dynamic reference frame (DRF), accuracy rates were 96.0% and 95.7% respectively, with no significant difference between the two.	Not reported	Mean operative time for skin-fixed groups was 4.2 hours compared with 4.1 hours for bone-fixed, with no significant difference between the two.	Not reported
Malham and Parker 2018¹¹	45 patients; 1 or 2-level PLIF/TLIF with or without decompression and posterior pedicle screw fixation as second stage to ALIF/LLIF; prospective, single-center	The accuracy rate for pedicle screws placed using the SpineMask tracker system was 97% (197/204 screws inserted without breach of cortical bone).	Mean fluoroscopic time was 141 seconds and mean radiation exposure given by area dose product was 246.7 mGy.	Not reported	Not reported
Jang et al 2015¹⁹ja	31 patients; minimally invasive anterior cervical surgery across various levels including ACDF (n = 3), ACF (n = 1), ATF (n = 4), MOC (n = 23); prospective, uses navigation probe to assess accuracy	Mean horizontal distance between caspar pin and navigation probe displayed on the monitor was 0.49 ± 0.71 mm, mean vertical distance was 0.88 ± 0.93 mm, and mean angular deviation in sagittal plane was 0.59 ± 0.55°.	Not reported	Not reported	Mean set-up time for navigation system with skin-fixed DRF was 4.8 minutes.
Vaishnav et al 2021¹²	21 patients; minimally invasive PCLF at various levels from C3-T1; retrospective, single-surgeon	Not reported	Median fluoroscopic time was 10 seconds and median radiation exposure was 2.5 mGy.	Median operative time for MI-PCLF using skin-anchored navigation was 62 minutes.	Median set-up time for skin-anchored intraoperative navigation was 34 minutes.
Vaishnav et al 2020¹³	326 patients divided into skin-anchored navigation (n = 232) and 2D fluoroscopy (n = 94) groups; Skin-anchored group underwent microdiscectomy (n = 92), laminectomy (n = 65), minimally invasive TLIF (n = 75), and fluoroscopy group only had MI-TLIF; Retrospective, single-surgeon	Not reported	Median fluoroscopy time for microdiscectomy, laminectomy, and MI-TLIF using skin-anchored navigation were 10, 9, and 26 seconds respectively, compared with 144 seconds for MI-TLIF using 2D fluoroscopy. Median radiation exposure was 15.6, 16.6, and 44.6 mGy for the skin-anchored groups compared with 63.1 mGy for the 2D fluoroscopy MI-TLIF group.	Median operative time for microdiscectomy, laminectomy, and MI-TLIF using skin-anchored navigation were 42, 50, and 92 minutes respectively, compared with 108 minutes for MI-TLIF using 2D fluoroscopy.	Median set-up time for microdiscectomy, laminectomy, and MI-TLIF using skin-anchored navigation were 22, 23, and 24 minutes respectively.

Figure 1.

Application of the surfaced-based stereotactic tracker.

A study by Vaishnav et al examined the use of surface-based ION in 92 lumbar microdiscectomies, 65 laminectomies, and 75 MIS-TLIFs.¹³ A median time of 22-24 minutes was required for ION setup and image acquisition. Fluoroscopy time and radiation dose, respectively, were a median of 10 seconds and 15.2 mGy for microdisectomies, 9 seconds and 16.6 mGy for laminectomies, and 26 seconds and 44.6 mGy for MIS-TLIFs. Notably, they also compared the MIS-TLIFs performed with surface-based ION to 94 instances where the procedure was performed only with fluoroscopy. The surface-based ION cohort had significantly shorter operative times, fluoroscopy times, and radiation doses. These results provide further evidence that surface-based ION may be practical, effective, and can increase intraoperative efficiency. A similar study by Vaishnav et al, evaluated the use of surface-based ION in 21 patients undergoing minimally invasive posterior cervical laminoforaminotomy.¹² The median time for ION setup was 34 minutes. Fluoroscopy time and radiation dose, respectively, were a median of 10 seconds and 2.5 mGy exposure to the patient; exposure to operating room personnel was negligible as they were protected by a lead shield during image acquisition.¹² There were no wrong-level surgeries; instrumentation accuracy was not reported as no patients underwent subaxial lateral mass or pedicle screw placement.¹²

Surfaced-Based Navigation Workflow

Operating room setup

All procedures are performed in the prone position with general anesthesia and endotracheal intubation on a Jackson Table with 6-posts (cervical and thoracic cases) or a Jackson Table with a Wilson Frame (lumbar cases). The head is placed in a secured platform with a helmet which holds a foam-molded head/face cushion. The operating room setup utilizes a navigation system, which includes a tracking camera and a monitor displaying the spinal map; both can be placed at the foot or head of the bed depending on the procedure. Continuous intraoperative neuromonitoring is used for all cases.

The senior author’s preferred surface-based navigation platform is the SpineMask® Tracker, SpineMap® 3D Software and NAV3i Platform (Stryker Corp).

Registration and image acquisition

The surface-based stereotactic tracker can be placed over the target level(s) and the surgeon can work inside the tracking device, or it can be placed outside the target level(s) and the surgeon can work outside the tracking device. It is important to make sure the surface-based tracker is firmly affixed to the patient’s skin, and generally the skin-adhesive is reinforced with iodine impregnated adhesive strips.

After the surface-based stereotactic tracker has been “captured” by the tracking camera, anteroposterior and lateral images centered on the operative level(s) are obtained, to confirm that the subsequent 3D image acquisition will be centered on the area of interest. A precalibrated instrument is used to digitize registration points on imaging device just prior to 3D image acquisition. The acquired imaging dataset is automatically transferred to the navigation system and a 3D image is reconstructed. Registration is then confirmed by placing a sterile probe on known anatomic landmarks to confirm accuracy.

Case Examples

Cervical laminoforaminotomy

For posterior cervical laminoforaminotomy, the surface-based tracker is placed overlying the thoracic spine, below the target level(s) (Figure 2A). The cervical intervertebral level of interest is identified on the skin using the navigated calibrated pointer (Figure 2B). The junction between the facet joints and laminae of the caudal motion segment are then identified (Figure 2C) and this point serves at the center of the incision. After incision, dilation, and final tube placement, the calibrated pointer is again used to make sure the tubular retractor is centered on the intended foramen (Figure 2D). After dissection in the tube under the microscopic, bony landmarks are exposed and the calibrated probe is used to identify the lamino-facet junction and the lateral and medial walls of the caudad pedicle (Figure 2E) to define the lateral and medial extent of the intended foraminotomy. The decompression is then performed, and the calibrated pointer can be used intermittently to confirm the intended decompression has been executed.

Figure 2.

Cervical Laminoforaminotomy. A, The surface-based track is placed overlying the thoracic spine, below the target level. B, Localization of the cervical intervertebral level of interest on the skin using the navigated calibrated pointer. C, Identifying the junction between the facet joints and laminae of the caudal motion segment, and this point serves at the center of the incision. D, Utilization of the navigation probe within the tubular retractor to make sure it is centered on the intended foramen. E, The calibrated probe is used to identify the walls of the caudad pedicle.

Lumbar decompression

For lumbar decompression procedures, the surfaced-based stereotactic tracker is placed over the target level(s) (Figure 3A) and the desired site of incision and proper trajectory are identified with a calibrated pointer. After incision, dissection and serial dilation, the final tube is secured to a stable attached mount and the tube’s desired trajectory is confirmed with a calibrated pointer before final securement. Once bony landmarks have been identified within the tube under the microscope, a final verification check is performed with the calibrated pointer, and the desired decompression is performed. Intermittently the surgeon can use the calibrated pointer within the tube (Figure 3B) to verify the intended bony decompression has been performed, or to verify where the disc space is when performing a microdiscectomy (Figure 3C).

Figure 3.

Lumbar Decompression. A, The surfaced-based stereotactic tracker is placed over the target level. B, and C, Intermittent utilization of the calibrated pointer within the tubular retractor to identify the disc space.

MIS-transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF)

For navigated MIS-TLIF, the surface-based stereotactic tracker is placed overlying the thoracic spine, outside of the target lumbar level(s) (Figure 4A). After accuracy of the registration and imaging acquisition process is confirmed, percutaneous pedicle screws are placed. The surface-based navigation can be used to identify the pedicle start points (Figure 4B and C) and measure the desired pedicle screw length and diameter, using 3D imaging (Figure 4D). Based on surgeon preference, the pedicle screws can be placed before the TLIF or Kirschner wires (K-wires) can be provisionally placed and the screws can be placed at the end of the case.

Figure 4.

Lumbar Instrumentation. A, The surfaced-based stereotactic tracker is placed overlying the thoracic spine, outside of the target lumbar level. B, Identification of pedicle screw start points on the skin. C, Advancement of the navigated pedicle probe into the pedicle on real-time 3D imaging. D, Measurement of the desired pedicle screw length and diameter.

For the TLIF portion of the base, the desired incision and tube trajectory are planned on the skin using a calibrated pointer and the navigation system, similar to lumbar decompression as previously described. Incision and serial dilation are performed, and the tube is docked on the desired facet. Prior to securing the tube to the table mount, a calibrated pointer is again used to make sure the tube is docked over the intended facet and oriented towards the disc space. Once the facetectomy is performed, the calibrated pointer can again be utilized to locate the disc space, and this can be particularly useful when there is as calcified disc or in revision anatomy where the annulus may be obscured.

Conclusions

The nascent literature regarding surface-based ION in spine surgery is encouraging, and its applicability for minimally-invasive procedures is self-evident. The ability to use 3D navigation without additional incisions, soft tissue dissection, or the affixing of clamps to bony landmarks is consistent with the atraumatic philosophy of MIS procedures. Skeptics may have concerns regarding the accuracy of surface-based ION, given that the reference array is not fixated to an immovable base, however early evidence suggests accuracy may not be compromised. Those who worry that the surface-based ION system adds inefficiency to the operating room can also be reassured by recent studies. Furthermore, the non-invasive nature of surface-based anchors lowers the threshold for the use of navigation during non-fusion procedures. Overall, it is possible that surface-based ION will become a mainstay in the armamentarium of enabling technologies utilized by minimally-invasive spine surgeons, but further studies are needed assessing its accuracy, complications, and cost-effectiveness.

Footnotes

Declaration of Conflicting Interests

The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Sheeraz A Qureshi: Board of Directors: Society Of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery; Consulting: Globus Medical, Inc., Stryker K2 M; Other Office: Annals Of Translational Medicine (Editorial Board Member), Association Of Bone And Joint Surgeons (Committee Member), Cervical Spine Research Society, Contemporary Spine Surgery (Editorial Board Member), International Society For The Advancement Of Spine Surgery (Committee Member, 2021 Annual Conference Program Co-Chair), Lumbar Spine Research Society, Minimally Invasive Spine Study Group (Board Member), North American Spine Society (Committee Member), Simplify Medical, Inc. (Clinical Events Committee Member), Society Of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (Committee Member, Board Member); Private Investments: Tissue Differentiation Intelligence, Royalties: Globus Medical, Inc., Stryker K2 M; Scientific Advisory Board: Lifelink.Com Inc., Spinal Simplicity, LLC; Speaking and/or Teaching Arrangements: Amopportunities (Honoraria), Globus Medical, Inc. (Speakers’ Bureau), RTI Surgical Inc.; Trips/Travel: Globus Medical, Inc., Integrity Implants Inc, Medical Device Business Services, Medtronic USA, Inc., Nuvasive, Inc., Paradigm Spine, Stryker K2 M.

Funding

The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

ORCID iDs

Ram K. Alluri, MD

Avani S. Vaishnav, MBBS

Sheeraz A. Qureshi, MD, MBA

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