Pedicle screw path planning for multi‐level vertebral fixation

Background For the spinal internal fixation procedures, connecting rods to the pedicle screws are commonly used in all spinal segments from the cervical to sacral spine. So far, we have only seen single vertebral screw trajectory planning methods in literatures. Joint screw placements in multi‐level vertebrae with the constraint of an ipsilateral connecting rod are not considered. Purpose In this paper, a screw trajectory planning method that considers screw‐rod joint system with both multi‐level vertebral constraints and individual vertebral safety tolerance are proposed. Methods The proposed method addresses three challenging constraints jointly for multi‐level vertebral fixation with pedicle screws. First, a cylindrical screw safe passage model is suggested instead of a unique mathematical optimal trajectory for a single pedicle. Second, the flexible screw cap accessibility model is also included. Third, the connecting rod is modeled to accommodate the spine contour and support the needed gripping capacity. The retrospective clinical data of relative normal shape spines from Beijing Jishuitan hospital were used in the testing. The screw trajectories from the existing methods based on single vertebra and the proposed method based on multi‐level vertebrae optimization are calculated and compared. Results The results showed that the calculated screw placements by the proposed method can achieve 88% success rate without breaking the pedicle cortex and 100% in clinical class A quality (allow less than 2 mm out of the pedicle cortex) compared to 86.1% and 99.1%, respectively, with the existing methods. Expert evaluation showed that the screw path trajectories and the connecting rod calculated by the new method satisfied the clinical implantation requirements. Conclusions The new screw planning approach that seeks an overall optimization for multi‐level vertebral fixation is feasible and more advantageous for clinical use than the single vertebral approaches.