Image-guided anterior thoracolumbar corpectomy: a report of three cases.

Abstract

A report of three cases of thoracolumbar vertebral collapse treated with image-guided anterior corpectomy. To document the surgical technique and the usefulness of image-guided anterior corpectomy for thoracolumbar vertebral collapse. Computer-assisted navigation systems can provide accurate three-dimensional surgical information intraoperatively. However, there is no clinical report regarding the application and usefulness of the computer-assisted navigation system for anterior thoracolumbar corpectomy. After exposure of anterior and lateral aspects of the vertebral bodies through the transpleural approach, a reference frame was fixed to the thoracolumbar spinous process. Then thoracolumbar corpectomy and decompression were carried out under computer assistance. The tip of the standard probe and the angled rongeur could be monitored on three-dimensional images during surgery, and the retropulsed fragments within the spinal canal could be safely and completely removed under computer assistance. This image-guided procedure would aid surgeons in the complete and safe decompression of thoracolumbar injury.