Guided surgery with navigation

What is navigated surgery?

A navigator is a high-tech device that is used in surgery to guide the surgeon in real time during the intervention, mainly in the placement of implants, to increase precision and minimize risk for the patient. This is achieved by combining computed tomography (CT) images of the patient, with reference spheres placed in the surgical field and the instruments to be used. These spheres are captured by the navigator’s cameras to know in real time the location of the instruments with respect to the patient’s anatomy.

As a result, the patient benefits from more targeted incisions that are less invasive and respect as many structures as possible around the injury area. The precision in implant placement is increased, the areas for resection of bone tumors can be better delimited or the areas that require decompression can be checked intraoperatively. It is a technology that complements the surgeon to perform a safer and more precise intervention.

Pathologies that can be addressed with a browser

The navigator can be used in virtually all spinal pathologies and can be of great help to surgeons in planning and executing surgery. Some of the pathologies that can be addressed thanks to the spine surgery navigator are:

• Vertebral implant placement:
  the navigator helps surgeons place transpedicular screws or other implants, more accurately and safely, which can reduce the risk of significant neurological and functional injuries that contribute negatively to patient morbidity.
• Fractures of the vertebral bodies:
  the navigator can help surgeons perform instrumented decompression and fixation of the spine with a minimally invasive technique called percutaneous navigation-guided percutaneous lumbar arthrodesis.
• Lumbar canal stenosis:
  the navigator can help surgeons perform instrumented spinal decompression and fixation with a minimally invasive technique called percutaneous navigation-guided lumbar arthrodesis.
• Lumbar spondylolisthesis:
  the navigator can help surgeons perform instrumented decompression and fixation of the spine with a minimally invasive technique called percutaneous navigation-guided lumbar arthrodesis.
• Lumbar disc disease:
  the navigator can help surgeons perform instrumented spinal decompression and fixation with a minimally invasive technique called percutaneous navigation-guided lumbar arthrodesis.
• Vertebral tumors/metastases:
  the navigator can help to locate and delimit the lesion more precisely for subsequent resection.
• Calcified dorsal hernias:
  the navigator can help to locate and delimit the lesion more precisely for subsequent resection.
• Cervical myelopathy:
  the navigator can help to delimit the areas to decompress and the placement of posterior implants required to stabilize the spine.

Advantages of navigator surgery

As specialists in navigated surgery, with extensive experience in the use of this technology, we can affirm that the advantages offered by navigated surgery are greater precision and safety, shorter surgery time and lower risk of complications.

Our team of BSI specialists will be able to guide you in which cases it may make sense to incorporate navigation into the planning of your spine surgery.