Pedicle Screw Placement Using an Augmented Reality Head-Mounted Display in a Porcine Model

This protocol helps assess the accuracy and workflow of an augmented reality (AR) hybrid navigation system using the Magic Leap head-mounted display (HMD) for minimally invasive pedicle screw placement. The cadaveric porcine specimens were placed on a surgical table and draped with sterile covers. The levels of interest were identified using fluoroscopy, and a dynamic reference frame was attached to the spinous process of a vertebra in the region of interest. Cone beam computerized tomography (CBCT) was performed, and a 3D rendering was automatically generated, which was used for the subsequent planning of the pedicle screw placements. Each surgeon was fitted with an HMD that was individually eye-calibrated and connected to the spinal navigation system.

Navigated instruments, tracked by the navigation system and displayed in 2D and 3D in the HMD, were used for 33 pedicle cannulations, each with a diameter of 4.5 mm. Postprocedural CBCT scans were assessed by an independent reviewer to measure the technical (deviation from the planned path) and clinical (Gertzbein grade) accuracy of each cannulation. The navigation time for each cannulation was measured. The technical accuracy was 1.0 mm ± 0.5 mm at the entry point and 0.8 mm ± 0.1 mm at the target. The angular deviation was 1.5° ± 0.6°, and the mean insertion time per cannulation was 141 s ± 71 s. The clinical accuracy was 100% according to the Gertzbein grading scale (32 grade 0; 1 grade 1). When used for minimally invasive pedicle cannulations in a porcine model, submillimeter technical accuracy and 100% clinical accuracy could be achieved with this protocol.