Robotics Coupled With Navigation for Pediatric Spine Surgery: Initial Intraoperative Experience With 162 Cases.

BACKGROUND: This study assesses intraoperative efficacy, accuracy, and complications of pedicle screw placement using robotic-assisted navigation (RAN) in pediatric spine surgery. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients who underwent spine deformity surgery using RAN at a single pediatric institution from 2019 to 2021 was conducted. Patient demographics, perioperative metrics, screw execution and accuracy, technical difficulties, and other outcomes were summarized. In cases with postoperative computed tomography scans, screws were classified using the Gertzbein and Robbins classification scale. Fisher exact tests were used to assess the relationship between procedural changes and lateral screw malposition. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-two cases with an average patient age of 15.1 years (range, 4 to 31 y) were reviewed. The most common diagnosis was adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (n=80) with an average major curve of 65 degrees. Of 1467 screws attempted, 1461 were executed successfully (99.6%). All failures were in Type D pedicles and were lateral deviations recognized with routine intraoperative fluoroscopy. In cases with postoperative computed tomography imaging, 100% of screws (n=197) were placed with complete containment (Grade A). Remaining screws were graded as accurate by mirroring fluoroscopy and planned computer software positions. In 4% of cases, loss of registration was detected by a safety check before drilling at the planned level. There were no neurological deficits or returns to the operating room. Two changes occurred as part of the learning curve associated with this technique. (1) Adoption of a high-speed navigated drill: Change 1 (last 74 cases). (2) Drilling all pilot holes robotically first, then placing screws within the robotically established tracts to avoid motion and subsequent registration disruption: Change 2 (last 39 cases). Change 1 was less likely to result in screw malposition as no screws skived lateral with the technique ( P =0.03). Change 2 trended toward statistical significance for avoidance of screw malposition and loss of registration, as no loss of registration occurred after adopting this technique. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the safety and screw accuracy associated with the use of RAN in pediatric patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Robotic-Assisted Total Hip Arthroplasty in Patients Who Have Developmental Hip Dysplasia.

INTRODUCTION: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) in the setting of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) presents more inherent complexities than routine primary THA for osteoarthritis. These include acetabular bone deficiency, limb length discrepancy (LLD), and abnormal femoral anteversion. Three-dimensional planning and robot-assisted (RA) bone preparation may simplify these complex procedures and make them more reproducible. The purpose of this study was to evaluate radiographic and clinical outcomes in a cohort of patients who had DDH and underwent an RA THA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 26 DDH patients who underwent RA THA by a single surgeon between 2013 and 2019. Their mean age was 54 years (range, 29 to 72 years) and mean follow up was approximately two years. Medical records were reviewed for demographics, clinical scores, Crowe classifications, and complications. There were thirteen Crowe I and seven Crowe II DDH hips, who were routinely managed with primary cementless implants. Two patients who had Crowe III and four patients who had Crowe IV DDH were also identified. All hips were reconstructed with cementless hemispherical acetabular components with or without the use of screws, but no acetabular augments or bulk allografts. Implants allowing control of femoral anteversion were selected in 23.1% of cases, including all six cases with Crowe III or IV dysplasia, and the need for these implants was uniformly identified using preoperative information about femoral version provided by the three-dimensional planning software. No patient was managed with a shortening femoral osteotomy. Postoperative radiographs were examined for LLD, center of rotation (COR), cup position (inclination and anteversion), and component osseous-integration. RESULTS: Mean radiographic LLD was 1.7mm (range, -9 to +14) in patients who had Crowe I DDH, and there was no clinical LLDs greater than 5mm observed. Although patients who had Crowe II and greater DDH had a mean radiographic LLD of -11.6mm (range, -26 to +2.2), again no clinical LLD greater than 5mm was observed other than one patient who had bilateral Crowe II DDH in whom 10mm of clinical lengthening was accepted at the index arthroplasty with the plan to match lengths when her contralateral THA was performed. There were no cases of dislocation or acetabular fixation failure. One patient who had a femoral deformity and an intra-osseous blade plate from a prior femoral osteotomy suffered a failure of femoral osseous-integration, resulting in revision. A 32-point increase in mean modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS) was found (p=0.002), from 48 points preoperatively to 80 points postoperatively. DISCUSSION: RA THA provides an excellent option for the arthroplasty surgeon to both preoperatively localize and characterize the acetabular deficiency, while providing a targeted, optimal, and secure placement of the components intraoperatively. Our results suggest favorable outcomes when compared to previous research on manual THA in DDH. Further studies, including comparative analyses, could discern possible advantages over traditional THA without robotic assistance in DDH. CONCLUSION: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) in the setting of developmental dysplasia presents more inherent complexities than routine primary THA. Robotic-assisted THA may simplify these complex procedures.

Use of a high-speed drill in robotics coupled with navigation for pediatric spine surgery.

With the increasing number of surgeries for pediatric spinal deformities, the aim has been to reduce the associated complications, such as those caused by screw malposition. This case series is an intra-operative experience with a new navigated high-speed revolution drill (Mazor Midas, Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) for pediatric spinal deformity to assess accuracy and workflow. 88 patients, ranging from 2 to 29 years of age, were included who underwent posterior spinal fusion with the navigated high-speed drill. Diagnoses, Cobb angles, imaging, surgical time, complications, and total number of screws placed are described. Screw positioning was evaluated using fluoroscopy, plain radiography, and CT. Mean age was 15.4 years old. Diagnoses included 47 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, 15 neuromuscular scoliosis, 8 spondylolisthesis, 4 congenital scoliosis, and 14 other. The mean Cobb angulation for scoliosis patients was 64° and the mean number of levels fused was 10. 81 patients had registration via intraoperative 3-D imaging and 7 had pre-operative CT scan to fluoroscopy registration. There were a total of 1559 screws with 925 placed robotically. 927 drill paths were drilled with the Mazor Midas. 926 out of 927 drill paths were accurate. The mean surgical time was 304 min with the mean robotic time being 46 min. This is the first intra-operative report to our knowledge documenting the experience with the Mazor Midas drill in pediatric spinal deformity showing decreased skiving potential, decreased torque when drilling, and lastly increased accuracy. Level of evidence: level III.

Implementation of a Geriatrics-Focused Orthopaedic and Hospitalist Fracture Program Decreases Perioperative Complications and Improves Resource Utilization.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the implementation of a geriatrics-focused orthopaedic and hospitalist comanagement program can improve perioperative outcomes and decrease resource utilization. DESIGN: A retrospective chart review study was conducted before and after the implementation of a geriatrics-focused orthopaedic and hospitalist comanagement program, based on the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) AGS CoCare:Ortho. SETTING: A large urban, academic tertiary center, located in the greater New York metropolitan area. PARTICIPANTS: Patients 65 years and older hospitalized for operative hip fracture. Those with pathologic or periprosthetic fractures and chronic substance use were excluded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Outcome measures included time to operating room (TtOR), length of stay, daily and total morphine milligram equivalents, use of preoperative transthoracic echocardiogram and blood transfusions, perioperative complications (eg, urinary tract infections), and 6-month mortality. RESULTS: Our study included 290 patients hospitalized with hip fracture, before (N = 128) and after (N = 162) implementation. When compared with the preimplementation group, the postimplementation comanagement group had a lower TtOR (36.2 vs. 30.0 hours, P = 0.026) and hospital length of stay, decreased use of indwelling bladder catheters preoperatively and postoperatively (68.0% vs. 46.9%, P < 0.001, and 83.6 vs. 58.0%, P < 0.001, respectively), reduced daily opiate use (16.0 vs. 11.1 morphine milligram equivalents, P = 0.011), and decreased 30-day complications (32.8% vs. 16.7%, P = 0.002). There was no difference in 6-month mortality between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of an AGS CoCare:Ortho-based comanagement program led to decreased perioperative complications and resource utilization. Comanagement programs are essential to improving and standardizing hip fracture care for older adults. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Completion of the Updated Caprini Risk Assessment Model (2013 Version).

The Caprini risk assessment model (RAM) has been validated in over 250 000 patients in more than 100 clinical trials worldwide. Ultimately, appropriate treatment options are dependent on precise completion of the Caprini RAM. As the numerical score increases, the clinical venous thromboembolism rate rises exponentially in every patient group where it has been properly tested. The 2013 Caprini RAM was completed by specially trained medical students via review of the presurgical assessment history, medical clearances, and medical consults. The Caprini RAM was completed for every participant both preoperatively and predischarge to ensure that any changes in the patient's postoperative course were captured by the tool. This process led to the development of completion guidelines to ensure consistency and accuracy of scoring. The 2013 Caprini scoring system provides a consistent, thorough, and efficacious method for risk stratification and selection of prophylaxis for the prevention of venous thrombosis.