Navigation of artificial disc replacement: Evaluation in a cadaver study

Abstract

Introduction: Previous studies have shown that total disc replacement (TDR) resulted in significantly better restoration of disc-space height and significantly less subsidence than anterior interbody fusion with BAK cages. Clinical outcomes and flexion/extension range of motion correlated with the accuracy of surgical placement of the CHARITé™ artificial disc. False positioning of the artificial disc leads to spondylarthrosis and disc degeneration of the adjacent segment, and exclusive use of a C-arm could cause such false positioning (due to the parallax effect). The objective of this study was to test and evaluate the accuracy of navigated artificial disc replacement as performed by a spine surgeon without a prior learning curve. In each case, the placement position achieved by the surgeon was compared with the preoperatively planned position for that specimen. Materials and Methods: Lumbar intervertebral disc prostheses (CHARITé™, DePuy Spine) were placed using an image guidance technique (BrainLAB VectorVision system) in ten human cadaveric spine specimens. A total of 15 such disc replacements were performed using navigation. Post-instrumentation accuracy was assessed by a computer on the basis of CT scans. Results: The placement of the disc was assessed as ideal (<3 mm from the planned position), suboptimal (35 mm from the planned position) or poor (>5 mm from the planned position). Only three disc prostheses were placed suboptimally, and none was poorly placed. Placement in the coronal plane was significantly better than in the other planes. Discussion: Navigation is a useful instrument in the hands of the spine surgeon, enabling an ideal placement of the disc prosthesis. Navigation offers greater accuracy and less inter-procedural variation than standard fluoroscopy (due to the parallax effect). As accurate (ideal or suboptimal) placement correlates with good clinical outcome, further clinical studies on the navigation of TDR are essential. In this present study, the disc replacement was performed by a surgeon without experience in total disc replacement, indicating that prior completion of a learning curve was not essential.