New Technique for Treatment of Spondylolysis and Contralateral Facet Fracture Using Navigation and Robotics

Abstract

Case: A healthy 15-year-old male competitive hockey player presented with acute-on-chronic lower back pain was found to have a bilateral pars defect. After conservative treatment, subsequent computed tomography imaging demonstrated partial healing of the right-sided facet fracture but persistent left-sided pars fracture. A novel technique was performed, using robotic navigation to assist in laminar screw placement and to determine the optimal trajectory for subsequent microscopic surgery and bone grafting. Conclusion: Robotic navigation can be safely used to not only guide precise laminar screw placement for fixation and direct repair but also to provide guidance for microscopic tubular bone grafting of the pars defect.