- Chief of Neurosurgical Spine and Education, Winthrop University Hospital, Mineola, NY 11501, USA
Correspondence Address:
Nancy E. Epstein
Chief of Neurosurgical Spine and Education, Winthrop University Hospital, Mineola, NY 11501, USA
DOI:10.4103/2152-7806.148001
Copyright: © 2014 Epstein NE. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.How to cite this article: Epstein NE. Commentary: Utility of the O-Arm in spinal surgery. Surg Neurol Int 30-Dec-2014;5:
How to cite this URL: Epstein NE. Commentary: Utility of the O-Arm in spinal surgery. Surg Neurol Int 30-Dec-2014;5:. Available from: http://sni.wpengine.com/surgicalint_articles/commentary-utility-o%e2%80%91arm-spinal-surgery/
Abstract
Background:More studies report the intraoperative benefits vs. risks of utilizing the O-Arm in performing pedicle screw insertion in spinal surgery.
Methods/Results:Several studies document the utility of CT-guided O-arm placement of pedicle/lateral mass screws. Singh et al. documented the efficacy of CT guided-O Arm placement of pedicle screws and lateral mass screws in the upper cervical spine.[
Conclusion:There are several pros and a few cons (radiation dosage) for the use of the O-arm in spine surgery.
Keywords: O Arm, radiation dosage, spinal surgery, utility
COMMENTARY
Utility of the O-Arm in spinal surgery
There have been variable reports regarding the intraoperative benefits and risks of utilizing the O-Arm in performing pedicle screw insertion in spinal surgery. A cursory review of the literature demonstrates multiple pros and cons.
Efficacy of CT- guided O-arm placement of pedicle/lateral mass screws
Singh et al. documented the efficacy of CT guided-O Arm placement of pedicle screws and lateral mass screws in the upper cervical spine.[
Better outcomes of CT/O-arm placement of percutaneous pedicle screws
Kim et al. evaluated the safety/efficacy of intraoperative CT image-guided navigation (IGN) with the O-arm used in minimally invasive spine surgery (MIS).[
No significant difference in accuracy of O-Arm vs. conventional CT-based techniques for pedicle screw placement in scoliosis surgery, but a reduced time for screw placement
Kotani et al. commented on the increased accuracy of pedicle screw placement in scoliosis surgery utilizing O-arm navigational vs. conventional CT-based techniques.[
Radiation dose using intraoperative C-arm fluoroscopy, portable x-ray, and ct (O-arm) utilized in spinal surgery
Nelson et al. analyzed the radiation exposure delivered to the operating room staff utilizing C-arm fluoroscopy (C-arm), portable X-ray (XR) radiography, and portable cone-beam computed tomography (O-arm).[
Personal comment
There appear, indeed, to be multiple pros and cons for using the O-arm. I personally have not used it, and know that many members of the board, who have not commented, also have not employed it in their surgical procedures. A major cause of concern is the significant radiation dose not only for the surgeon, but the operative team as well. Perhaps selective use of the device, only where it is felt it will truly impact outcome, is worthwhile.
COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SNI: SPINE
Dr. Dennis Maiman
I’m an old man now, and have viewed many-if not most-of the new developments that were going to change everything in spine surgery with a measure of disdain. The ideal technology should be no more than an affirmation of the surgeon's capabilities, and does not substitute for experience and judgment. As a crutch, however, it can be useless or dangerous.
We now have extensive experience with the O arm combined with Stealth from C1 to the sacrum, but certainly do not use it universally. I do a lot of deformity surgery these days, and find it invaluable for screw targeting in a rotated/malaligned thoracolumbar spine. Indeed, I use it almost universally in the thoracic spine. I’ve also found it to be quite helpful in vertebral tumor resections, and transoral approaches: Nice to know how deep you are, before you go too far! Similarly, our cranial surgeons have used it in skull base tumors and DBS.
Two comments, however: Much of our utilization could be done with preoperative CT and then Stealth. Furthermore, no one in my group would be crippled without it. I have little doubt our accuracy is improved, but we did these procedures before the O arm and do not regard it as the standard of care.
What I really fear is the surgeon who is not trained or experienced in the procedure being undertaken relying on the technology to get through it. A tool is only as good as its handler.
Dr. Paul Arnold
The use of intra-operative navigation in spine surgery, particularly the O-arm, has increased rapidly in the past several years. We now use it for nearly every pedicle screw case. It is most helpful in the upper thoracic spine, where the patient's arms and the current OR tables make it almost impossible to discern the appropriate anatomy. We also use it for deformity reduction assessment as well as three-dimensional cage placement assessment.
While there is a learning curve to becoming comfortable with the technology, once this is mastered, screw placement is relatively pain free. There is some time involved in the set-up as well as data acquisition, which is offset by the relatively straightforward placement of the screws, without having to stop and obtain a fluoroscopy image with each screw insertion. The patient is subject to the equivalent of two intra-operative CT scans; this is somewhat offset by the fluoroscopy or x-ray exposure that would otherwise take place. We have been very happy with our screw placement accuracy using this technology, and we no longer image the patient while in the hospital. The initial cost to buy the technology is expensive, but we believe well worth it. We also use it for C1-C2 screws, and find it invaluable in this anatomic space.
(It is possible this technology will be the standard of care in the not-so-distant future for difficult cases; perhaps not in L4-5 degenerative spondylolisthesis. Woe to the surgeon who has this technology available and doesn’t use it and then has a wayward screw that must be explained under oath).
Commentary
COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SNI: SPINE
COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SNI: SPINE
COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SNI: SPINE
COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SNI: SPINE
COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SNI: SPINE
COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SNI: SPINE
COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SNI: SPINE
Dr. Dennis Maiman
Dr. Dennis Maiman
Dr. Dennis Maiman
I’m an old man now, and have viewed many-if not most-of the new developments that were going to change everything in spine surgery with a measure of disdain. The ideal technology should be no more than an affirmation of the surgeon's capabilities, and does not substitute for experience and judgment. As a crutch, however, it can be useless or dangerous.
Dr. Dennis Maiman
Dr. Dennis Maiman
We now have extensive experience with the O arm combined with Stealth from C1 to the sacrum, but certainly do not use it universally. I do a lot of deformity surgery these days, and find it invaluable for screw targeting in a rotated/malaligned thoracolumbar spine. Indeed, I use it almost universally in the thoracic spine. I’ve also found it to be quite helpful in vertebral tumor resections, and transoral approaches: Nice to know how deep you are, before you go too far! Similarly, our cranial surgeons have used it in skull base tumors and DBS.
Dr. Dennis Maiman
Dr. Dennis Maiman
Two comments, however: Much of our utilization could be done with preoperative CT and then Stealth. Furthermore, no one in my group would be crippled without it. I have little doubt our accuracy is improved, but we did these procedures before the O arm and do not regard it as the standard of care.
Dr. Dennis Maiman
Dr. Dennis Maiman
What I really fear is the surgeon who is not trained or experienced in the procedure being undertaken relying on the technology to get through it. A tool is only as good as its handler.
Dr. Dennis Maiman
Dr. Dennis Maiman
Dr. Paul Arnold
Dr. Paul Arnold
Dr. Paul Arnold
The use of intra-operative navigation in spine surgery, particularly the O-arm, has increased rapidly in the past several years. We now use it for nearly every pedicle screw case. It is most helpful in the upper thoracic spine, where the patient's arms and the current OR tables make it almost impossible to discern the appropriate anatomy. We also use it for deformity reduction assessment as well as three-dimensional cage placement assessment.
Dr. Paul Arnold
Dr. Paul Arnold
While there is a learning curve to becoming comfortable with the technology, once this is mastered, screw placement is relatively pain free. There is some time involved in the set-up as well as data acquisition, which is offset by the relatively straightforward placement of the screws, without having to stop and obtain a fluoroscopy image with each screw insertion. The patient is subject to the equivalent of two intra-operative CT scans; this is somewhat offset by the fluoroscopy or x-ray exposure that would otherwise take place. We have been very happy with our screw placement accuracy using this technology, and we no longer image the patient while in the hospital. The initial cost to buy the technology is expensive, but we believe well worth it. We also use it for C1-C2 screws, and find it invaluable in this anatomic space.
Dr. Paul Arnold
Dr. Paul Arnold
(It is possible this technology will be the standard of care in the not-so-distant future for difficult cases; perhaps not in L4-5 degenerative spondylolisthesis. Woe to the surgeon who has this technology available and doesn’t use it and then has a wayward screw that must be explained under oath).
Dr. Paul Arnold
References
1. Kim TT, Drazin D, Shweikeh F, Pashman R, Johnson JP. Clinical and radiographic outcomes of minimally invasive percutaneous pedicle screw placement with intraoperative CT (O-arm) image guidance navigation. Neurosurg Focus. 2014. 36: E1-
2. Kotani T, Akazawa T, Sakuma T, Koyama K, Nemoto T, Nawata K. Accuracy of Pedicle Screw Placement in Scoliosis Surgery: A Comparison between Conventional Computed Tomography-Based and O-Arm-Based Navigation Techniques. Asian Spine J. 2014. 8: 331-8
3. Nelson EM, Monazzam SM, Kim KD, Seibert JA, Klineberg EO. Intraoperative fluoroscopy, portable X-ray, and CT: patient and operating room personnel radiation exposure in spinal surgery. Spine J. 2014. 14: 2985-91
4. Singh PK, Garg K, Sawarkar D, Agarwal D, Satyarthee GD, Gupta D. Computed tomography-guided C2 pedicle screw placement for treatment of unstable hangman fractures. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2014. 39: E1058-65