Technological advancements that can be adopted for performing a safe vertebral column resection

• Main Authors: Arun-Kumar Kaliya-Perumal, Jacob Yoong-Leong Oh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2020-01-01
• Series: Indian Spine Journal
• Subjects: assistive technology; computer-assisted surgery; neuronavigation; three-dimensional printing; vertebral column resection
• Online Access: http://www.isjonline.com/article.asp?issn=2589-5079;year=2020;volume=3;issue=2;spage=258;epage=264;aulast=Kaliya-Perumal

Recent technological advancements have reduced the risks involved in vertebral column resection (VCR) with a wide range of tools that can be adopted. We intend to highlight the importance of these tools for performing a safe VCR. The patient, a 35-year-old man, presented with hyperkyphotic thoracic spine and symptomatic thoracic myelopathy. Radiological evaluation showed anterior wedging and fused T6-T7 vertebra, resulting in a gibbus deformity causing significant canal stenosis. Hence, T3-T10 posterior stabilization, T5-T8 decompression, and T6-T7 VCR and anterior column reconstruction were planned. We used recent technological advancements such as: (1) three-dimensional printed spine model for preoperative planning, (2) multimodal intraoperative neuromonitoring, (3) ultrasonic bone debulking, and (4) computed tomography–based image-guided spinal navigation. These advancements have made spine surgery relatively safer, predictable, and precise. Moreover, the field is constantly evolving. Hence, adapting to these advancements and utilizing it in complex scenarios are highly beneficial.