Intelligent Health.tech Issue 06 | Page 34

ONE MISPLACED SCREW CAN HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON A PATIENT , A SURGEON AND A HOSPITAL SYSTEM .
F E A T U R E

ONE MISPLACED SCREW CAN HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON A PATIENT , A SURGEON AND A HOSPITAL SYSTEM .

Investigators analysed data from 103 patients who underwent spinal fusion by a single surgeon from 2019 to 2022 . Pedicle screw placement was assessed with both intraoperative BPR and 3D imaging in each case .
" CT scans taken after surgery were compared to the findings of intraoperative BPR and 3D imaging to detect either false-positive or falsenegative readings ," added Fedan Avrumova , BS , an HSS Clinical Research Coordinator . " False positive findings are instances when BPR imaging suggests the screw was not in an acceptable position , while in fact a more advanced 3D image ( intraoperative 3D scan or postoperative CT scan ) showed the screw to be in an acceptable position .
“ Conversely , a false negative instance was when a BPR image led one to believe or looked as though the screw was in an acceptable position , when in fact a more advanced 3D image or post-operative CT scan showed that it was in fact not acceptable .”
Postoperative CT imaging revealed a clinically significant number of patients who had falsenegative and false-positive screw placement readings on BPR . However , screw position shown on intraoperative 3D imaging was found to be much more accurate .
" Based on our study , BPR imaging may lead one to think a screw is acceptable when in fact it is not and also may miss many screws that are not in fact acceptable . In our study , it was approximately 1 % of cases where this occurred . However , for surgeons and centres that implant hundreds and thousands of screws per year , this is going to result in a significant clinical impact for many people ," said Dr . Lebl .
" Even one misplaced screw can have a significant impact on a patient , a surgeon and a hospital system . Therefore , based on these
34 www . intelligenthealth . tech