Utilization of the 3-D image and printed model as a surgical plan: An experience of a multi-level cervical spine fracture

Abstract

The placement of cervical spine pedicle screws and lateral mass screws are technically demanding due to their proximity to vital structures such as the spinal cord and the vertebral arteries. In the case of multilevel cervical spine trauma, the fracture location and the size of the pedicle often limits the choice of the pedicle screw. This case report analyses the possibility of pedicle screw placement in the upper cervical spine with the help of a three-dimensional (3D)-image model as preoperative planning. Here, we present a 29-year-old patient who suffered from a motor vehicle accident. He had a cervical injury for which we designed a reduction plan with the help of 3D models shaped from his computed tomography image. The operation of reduction and fixation was performed from the level of C5 to T1 smoothly and no complication occurred through to follow-up. As shown in this case, 3D reconstruction technology can help us plan for reduction surgery in a highly complicated case of cervical spine fracture and provide the operator with a better way to visualize the surgical anatomy. 3D reconstruction technology can help us plan for reduction surgery and perform the preoperative surgical simulation. The surgeon can select the size of the pedicle screw correctly and save the operative time.

Keywords

• three-dimensional printing
• cervical spine fracture
• lateral mass screw
• pedicle screw
• surgical plan