Medicine, 2022 · DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000031876 · Published: December 1, 2022
This case report discusses a novel surgical approach for treating multiple cervical fractures using robot-assisted anterior transpedicular screw (ATPS) fixation combined with a custom 3D printed implant. The patient, a 64-year-old female with severe cervical fractures and spinal cord injury, underwent anterior C4-5 and C5-6 disc resection, C5 corpectomy, and robot-assisted ATPS fixation with a 3-D printed implant. Post-surgery, the patient showed significant improvement in muscle strength and reduction in neck pain, with CT scans confirming satisfactory implant placement.
Robot assistance enhances the accuracy of screw placement, reducing the risk of complications such as vertebral artery or spinal cord injury.
3D printing allows for the creation of patient-specific implants that better match the anatomy and provide improved load distribution and osseointegration.
ATPS fixation can achieve three-column stabilization, potentially avoiding the need for additional posterior approaches and reducing operative time and associated risks.