Efficacy of a new customized navigation template for placement of transpedicular screws for unilateral access in children with congenital spinal deformity and thoracic malformation

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Surgical treatment of congenital spinal deformities combined with thoracic development anomalies in children is an urgent and a complex problem in surgical practice. The surgical method of correcting congenital deformities caused by segmentation disorder of the lateral surfaces of vertebral bodies and unilateral rib synostosis is aimed at correcting the existing deformity using a transpedicular system. This technique is effective for treating this group of patients. However, it requires precise and accurate installation of the supporting elements of the metal structure owing to the high risk of damage to the neurovascular structures in the area of surgical intervention. A solution to this problem is the use of an individualized guide template with rib support for unilateral access in children with congenital deformities of the thorax and spine. AIM: To perform a comparative analysis of the results of using an individual rib-supported guide template for transpedicular screw placement and the “free hand” method in children during surgical correction of congenital spinal deformities accompanied by thoracic development anomalies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 14 patients who underwent surgical treatment for congenital deformity of the thoracic spine against the background of segmentation disorder of the lateral surfaces of the vertebral bodies in combination with thoracic anomalies. The patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 included six patients operated on using a new navigation template guide, and group 2 consisted of eight patients who underwent installation of support elements using the “free hand” method. The following parameters were compared: time spent at the stage of formation of bone canals for the support elements of the metal structure and accuracy and correctness of support element installation. Clinical data included demographic information and the size of the scoliotic arch, number of support elements, and presence of complications. Statistical analysis using Student’s t-test for unpaired samples or Mann–Whitney test was used to compare results. RESULTS: Data obtained in the course of the study confirmed the high efficiency and accuracy and showed that the use of the template reduces the time of bone canal formation, increases the accuracy, and provides greater correctness of the position of the supporting elements compared to the “free hand” method, which increases the efficiency and safety of surgical treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The developed template guide with support on the rib for the installation of the supporting elements of the metal structure in the surgical treatment of children with congenital deformity of the thoracic spine in combination with thoracic development anomaly showed better results compared to the use of the “free hand” method.