German Clinical Trials Register

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Brief summary in lay language

In minimally invasive surgery for stabilizing the lumbar spine, implants (screws, rods, spacer) have to be introduced precisely. For this purpose, X-ray-based imaging techniques are used intraoperatively. Conventional X-ray imaging (fluoroscopy) and intraoperative 3D fluoroscopy-based navigation (creating a 3D data set by fluoroscopy for navigation) are established imaging techniques. Since X-rays are ionizing and have potentially damaging effect on tissue, the most economical use of X-rays is crucial. Radiation exposure to patient and operating room staff by these two imaging techniques during minimally invasive stabilization of the lumbar spine (MIS TLIF) has not yet been compared. The aim of this study is to compare "conventional fluoroscopy" and intraoperative "3D Fluoroscopic navigation" in terms of radiation exposure of the patient and the operating room staff as well as the clinical and radiological results in minimally invasive stabilization of the lumbar spine (MIS TLIF) .

Brief summary in scientific language

As part of a posterior stabilization of the lumbar spine, dorsal transpedicular screws have to be implanted in the vertebral body as well as cages into the intervertebral disc space. For this purpose, x-ray-based imaging techniques are used. Since X-rays are ionizing and have potentially damaging effect on tissue, sparse use of X-rays is crucial. The traditional open surgical technique for spinal stabilization (open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, OTLIF) includes a long incision in the back, pushing off of the paraspinal musculature and thus provide an open view on the posterior spinal structures in order to introduce the implants. Currently, minimally invasive surgical techniques (minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, MIS TLIF) are increasingly used. It could be shown that MIS TLIF provides smaller incisions, reduced muscle trauma, infrequently healing disorders and infections, lower intraoperative blood loss, a less frequent application of a wound drainage, a reduced need for opioids, earlier mobilization and an earlier discharge from the hospital compared to OTLIF. Due to the lack of intraoperative visualization of the posterior spine in MIS TLIF, an increased use of x-rays is required, which can lead to an increased radiation exposure of the surgeon, operating room staff, and patient. In addition, the intraoperative 3D navigation is a new development of modern imaging techniques. Goals of the intraoperative 3D navigation are higher accuracy, reduced radiation exposure and possibly shorter operation time. In a cadaver study, MIS TLIF using the navigation-assisted fluoroscopy was found to exhibit less radiation exposure of the operator compared with conventional fluoroscopy. However, there are no systematic comparative studies of the radiation exposure performing MIS TLIF in patients. In the Department of Neurosurgery of the University Hospital in Freiburg, MIS TLIF have been performed routinely for years using the conventional fluoroscopy and 3D fluoroscopy-based navigation. With conventional fluoroscopy, X-ray images can visualize the minimally invasive introduced instruments and implants. With the 3D fluoroscopy-based navigation, an automated intraoperative 3D navigation data set is created from X-ray images. These X-rays were made in the absence of the operating room staff. Subsequently, the minimally invasive introduced instruments can be visualized in the 3D navigation data set on the screen of the navigation system. Herewith, the spine can be instrumented precisely without exposing operating room staff and patient to further X-rays. This study is a comparative study of the radiation exposure of the surgeon, operating room staff and patient, and of the radiological and clinical outcomes in mono- and bisegmental MIS TLIF using the following intraoperative imaging techniques: - Conventional fluoroscopy (FLUORO group) - 3D fluoroscopy-based navigation (NAV group)