ObjectiveTo compare short-term effectiveness between robot-guided percutaneous minimally invasive pedicle screw internal fixation and traditional open internal fixation in the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures.MethodsThe clinical data of 52 cases of thoracolumbar fracture without neurological injury symptoms admitted between January 2018 and May 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the different surgical methods, they were divided into minimally invasive group (24 cases, treated with robot-assisted percutaneous minimally invasive pedicle screw internal fixation) and open group (28 cases, treated with traditional open internal fixation). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the general data such as gender, age, cause of injury, fracture segment, thoracolumbar injury classification and severity score (TLICS), preoperative back pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Oswestry disability index (ODI) score, fixed segment height, and fixed segment kyphosis Cobb angle (P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and hospitalization time of the two groups were recorded and compared; as well as the VAS score, ODI score, fixed segment height, and fixed segment kyphosis Cobb angle of the two groups before operation and at 3 days, 1 month, 6 months, and 10 months after operation. CT scan was reexamined at 1-3 days after operation, and the pedicle screw insertion accuracy rate was determined and calculated according to Gertzbein-Robbins classification standard.ResultsThe operation time of the minimally invasive group was significantly longer than that of the open group, but the intraoperative blood loss and hospitalization time were significantly shorter than those of the open group (P<0.05). There were 132 pedicle screws and 158 pedicle screws implanted in the minimally invasive group and the open group respectively. According to the Gertzbein-Robbins classification standard, the accuracy of pedicle screws was 97.7% (129/132) and 96.8% (153/158), respectively, showing no significant difference between the two groups (χ2=0.505, P=0.777). The patients in both groups were followed up 10 months, and there was no rejection or internal fixation fracture. In the minimally invasive group, the internal fixator was removed at 10 months after operation, but not in the open group. The VAS score, ODI score, fixed segment heigh, and fixed segment kyphotic Cobb angle of the two groups were improved in different degrees when compared with preoperative ones (P<0.05). Except that the VAS score and ODI score of the minimally invasive group were significantly better than those of the open group at 3 days after operation (P<0.05), there was no significant difference between the two groups at other time points (P>0.05).ConclusionRobot-assisted percutaneous minimally invasive pedicle screw internal fixation for thoracolumbar fractures has significant advantages in intraoperative blood loss, hospitalization time, and early postoperative effectiveness and other aspects, and the effect of fracture reduction is good.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety and effectiveness of robot-guided percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) in treatment of multi-segmental thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF).MethodsA clinical data of 63 cases with multi-segmental thoracolumbar OVCF without neurologic deficit treated with PKP between October 2017 and February 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into robot-guided group (33 cases) and traditional fluoroscopy group (30 cases). There was no significant difference in gender, age, fracture segment, bone mineral density, and preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score, midline vertebral height, and Cobb angle between the two groups (P>0.05). The time to establish the tunnel, the times of fluoroscopy, the dose of fluoroscopy, the deviation of puncture, the distribution of bone cement, the leakage of bone cement, the puncture angle, and the postoperative VAS score, midline vertebral height, and Cobb angle were recorded and compared.ResultsThe patients in two groups were followed up 11-13 months (mean, 12 months). Compared with traditional fluoroscopy group, the time to establish the tunnel, the times and dose of fluoroscopy in robot-guided group were significantly lower, the deviation of puncture was slighter, the distribution of bone cement was better, and the puncture angle was larger, the differences between the two groups were significant (P<0.05). There were 8 segments (9.3%, 8/86) of bone leakage in robot-guided group and 17 segments (22.6%, 17/75) in traditional fluoroscopy group, the difference between the two groups was significant (χ2=5.455, P=0.020). There was no significant difference in VAS score, the midline vertebral height, and Cobb angle between the two groups at 2 days after operation and last follow-up (P>0.05).ConclusionRobot-guided PKP in treatment of multi-segmental thoracolumbar OVCF can shorten the operation time, improve the accuracy of puncture, reduce the times and dose of fluoroscopy, reduce the leakage of bone cement, and achieve better cement distribution.
ObjectiveTo compare the safety and accuracy of pedicle screw placement assisted by robot system with freehand pedicle screw placement in upper thoracic surgery.MethodsBetween December 2017 and December 2019, 39 cases with upper thoracic pedicle screw internal fixation were included in the study, including 19 cases in robot group (group A, robot assisted pedicle screw placement) and 20 cases in freehand group (group B, freehand pedicle screw placement). There were 104 screws implanted in group A and 108 screws in group B. There was no significant difference in age, gender composition, body mass index, disease type, number of screws implanted, and segmental distribution between the two groups (P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative drainage were recorded and compared between the two groups. CT scan was performed in all patients at 2 days after operation to evaluate the screw accuracy based on the Gertzbein-Robbins grading standard.ResultsThe operation time of group A was significantly longer than that in group B (t=2.759, P=0.009). There was no significant difference in intraoperative blood loss and postoperative drainage between the two groups (t=−0.796, P=0.431; t=−0.814, P=0.421). At 2 days after operation, according to Gertzbein-Robbins grading standard, the accuracy of pedicle screw implantation in group A were grade A in 94 screws, grade B in 9 screws, and grade C in 1 screw; and in group B were grade A in 72 screws, grade B in 26 screws, grade C in 9 screws, and grade D in 1 screw; the difference between the two groups was significant (Z=4.257, P=0.000). The accuracy rate of group A was 99.04%, and that of group B was 90.74%, showing significant difference (χ2=7.415, P=0.006).ConclusionCompared with traditional freehand pedicle screw placement, robot-assisted pedicle screw placement significantly improves the accuracy and safety of screw placement without increasing the bleeding and postoperative drainage.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety of TiRobot-guided percutaneous transpedicular screw implantation.MethodsThe medical records of 158 patients with thoracolumbar fractures and lumbar degenerative diseases who underwent percutaneous transpedicular screw implantation were retrospectively analyzed between January 2018 and December 2020. The patients were divided into trial group (TiRobot-guided screw implantation, 86 cases) and control group (fluoroscopy-guided screw implantation, 72 cases). There was no significant difference in gender, age, pathology, lesion segment, and the average number of screw implantation per case (P>0.05). The operation time, fluoroscopic dose, fluoroscopic time, and fluoroscopic frequency were compared between the two groups. One day postoperatively, the convergence angle was measured and the penetration of the pedicle cortex was evaluated according to Gertzbein-Robbins classification standard.ResultsThe operation time, fluoroscopic dose, fluoroscopic time, and fluoroscopic frequency of the trial group were significantly lesser than those of control group (P<0.05).One day postoperatively, the convergence angle of trial group was (21.10±4.08)°, which was significantly larger than control group (19.17±3.48)° (t=6.810, P=0.000). According to the Gertzbein-Robbins classification standard, 446 pedicle screws were implanted in trial group, trajectories were grade A in 377 screws, grade B in 46 screws, grade C in 23 screws, and the accuracy of screw implantation was 94.8%; 380 pedicle screws were implanted in control group, trajectories were grade A in 283 screws, grade B in 45 screws, grade C in 44 screws, grade D in 6 screws, grade E in 2 screws, and the accuracy of screw implantation was 86.3%. There was significant difference in the accuracy of screw implantation between the two groups (χ2=25.950, P=0.000). ConclusionCompared with traditional percutaneous transpedicular screw implantation, TiRobot-guided percutaneous transpedicular screw implantation can improve the accuracy of screw implantation, reduce radiation exposure, and improve surgical safety, which has a good application prospect.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of robot-guided percutaneous fixation and decompression via small incision in treatment of advanced thoracolumbar metastases. Methods A clinical data of 57 patients with advanced thoracolumbar metastases admitted between June 2017 and January 2021 and met the selection criteria was retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 26 cases were treated with robot-guided percutaneous fixation and decompression via small incision (robot-guided group) and 31 cases with traditional open surgery (traditional group). There was no significant difference in gender, age, body mass index, lesion segment, primary tumor site, and preoperative Tokuhashi score, Tomita score, Spinal Instability Neoplastic Score (SINS), visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Oswestry disability index (ODI), Karnofsky score, and Frankel grading between groups (P>0.05). The operation time, hospital stays, hospital expenses, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, duration of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, blood transfusion, complications, and survival time were compared. The pedicle screw placement accuracy was evaluated according to the Gertzbein-Robbins grading by CT within 4 days after operation. The pain, function, and quality of life were evaluated by VAS score, ODI, Karnofsky score, and Frankel grading. Results During operation, 257 and 316 screws were implanted in the robot-guided group and the traditional group, respectively; and there was no significant difference in pedicle screw placement accuracy between groups (P>0.05). Compared with the traditional group, the operation time, hospital stays, duration of ICU stay were significantly shorter, and intraoperative blood loss and postoperative drainage volume were significantly lesser in the robot-guided group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in hospital expenses, blood transfusion rate, and complications between groups (P>0.05). All patients were followed up 8-32 months (mean, 14 months). There was no significant difference in VAS scores between groups at 7 days after operation (P>0.05), but the robot-guided group was superior to the traditional group at 1 and 3 months after operation (P<0.05). The postoperative ODI change was significantly better in the robot-guided group than in the traditional group (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the postoperative Karnofsky score change and Frankel grading change when compared to the traditional group (P>0.05). Median overall survival time was 13 months [95%CI (10.858, 15.142) months] in the robot-guided group and 15 months [95%CI (13.349, 16.651) months] in the traditional group, with no significant difference between groups (χ2=0.561, P=0.454) . Conclusion Compared with traditional open surgery, the robot-guided percutaneous fixation and decompression via small incision can reduce operation time, hospital stays, intraoperative blood loss, blood transfusion, and complications in treatment of advanced thoracolumbar metastases.