In plain language
In 87 patients having minimally invasive lumbar fusion, navigation cut C-arm dose area product about sixfold and fluoroscopy time by more than half versus standard fluoroscopy, but added about 12 minutes; operator dose was not directly measured.
At a glance
- Type of study
- Original research, Prospective cohort study
- Who was studied
- Patients, Orthopedic surgeons
- Size
- n = 87 patients
- Summary based on
- the full text
What it found
Navigation-guided MIS TLIF had a much lower dose area product than fluoroscopy-guided MIS TLIF.
Key figures: 0.470±0.122 vs 2.928±0.870 Gy.cm2, p<0.00001
Cumulative air kerma was lower with navigation.
Key figures: 1.68±0.419 vs 10.97±2.38 mGy, p<0.00001
Fluoroscopy time was lower with navigation.
Key figures: 46.50±11.89 vs 119.08±29.784 seconds, p<0.00001
Screw accuracy was not significantly different between groups.
Key figures: 96.29% (104/108) vs 91.67% (220/240), p=0.114
Navigation lengthened surgical time.
Key figures: 166.11±16.588 vs 154±10.076 minutes, p<0.05
Limits to keep in mind
Small, non-randomized single-surgeon, single-centre study with group allocation by patient choice and affordability; radiation was measured only as C-arm dose indices, not as surgeon or staff personal dosimetry.
Related research summaries
- Radiation exposure during direct versus indirect image acquisition during fluoroscopy-controlled internal fixation of a hip fracture: Results of a randomized controlled trial (2019, Randomized trial)
- Intra-operative fluoroscopy time and radiation dose during suprapatellar tibial nailing versus infrapatellar tibial nailing (2018, Retrospective cohort study)
- Defining reference levels for intra-operative radiation exposure in orthopaedic trauma: A retrospective multicentre study (2015, Retrospective cohort study)
- ICRP Publication 117. Radiological Protection In Fluoroscopically Guided Procedures Performed Outside The Imaging Department (2010, Guideline or consensus statement)
- AST Standards for Ionizing Radiation Exposure (Guideline or consensus statement)
How this summary was made
ORSIF prepared this summary with AI assistance from the full text of the paper. A program then checked that the passage supporting each finding appears word for word in that source. A person has not yet reviewed each summary, so read the original before relying on a number. ORSIF summarizes research and does not endorse any product or company. Report a problem with this summary.
Prepared November 3, 2026.