Use of intraoperative navigation for posterior spinal fusion in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis surgery is safe to consider

• Published in: Spine deformity 2021-03, Vol.9 (2), p.403-410
• Main Authors: Moore, Harold G., Samuel, Andre M., Burroughs, Patrick J., Pathak, Neil, Tuason, Dominick A., Grauer, Jonathan N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Case Series; Child; Humans; Kyphosis; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Operative Time; Orthopedics; Scoliosis - surgery; Spinal Fusion - adverse effects; Surgical Navigation Systems; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 2212-134X; 2212-1358
• DOI: 10.1007/s43390-020-00218-x

Purpose The use of image-guided stereotactic navigation is increasing in use in treating AIS; however, no studies have investigated perioperative outcomes and short-term adverse events compared with non-navigated procedures. The aim of the present study is to use a large national pediatric database to assess the rate of utilization of intraoperative navigation in pediatric patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and to compare thirty-day outcomes of navigated vs. non-navigated surgery. Methods The NSQIP-Pediatric database was queried for cases of posterior fusion for AIS. Patients were stratified by whether or not a concurrent code for stereotactic navigation was used (CPT 61,783). Year of procedure, demographics, comorbidities, operative variables and perioperative adverse outcomes were abstracted and assessed using univariate and multivariate analysis. Results Overall, 12,739 non-navigated patients and 340 navigated patients were identified. The use of navigation increased from 0.5% of cases in 2012 to 5.2% of cases in 2018. Demographics, comorbidities, and number of levels fused did not differ between navigated and non-navigated patients. Navigated cases were on average 41 min longer than non-navigated cases (268.6 vs. 309.6 min p