A new digital template as navigation to spinal pedicle instrumentation

Objective To determine the accuracy of a novel method of spinal pedicel stereotaxy which is developed by Reverse Engineering and rapid prototyping.Methods A 3-D CT scan of L1-L3 vertebrae of an old man cadaver was performed.The CT data were transferred via a DICOM network to a computer workstation.Three dimensional software amira3.1 was used to establish the L1-L3 3-D model.The 3-D model was preserved by STL code.The 3-D model was processed in UG imagewarel2.0 and the 3D coordinate system was located.The best pedicle channel was designed according to the Reverse Engineering.A template was established which accorded with the laminar anatomic traits.The best pedicle channel and the template were integrated into a navigational template.An exact vertebral and navigational template was manufactured by rapid prototyping(SLA technique).The accuracy of pedicel instrumentation was confirmed by X-ray and CT scan.Results A new method of spinal pedicel stereotaxy was established by Reverse Engineering and rapid prototyping.The navigational template was found to be highly accurate.Conclusion The spinal stereotaxy developed by Reverse Engineering and rapid prototyping provides a new method for pedicle screw insertion. Key words: Spine;  Surgery, computer-assisted