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The Spinal Navigation Trial - Surgical Navigation or Free Hand Technique in Spine Surgery

SpiNav - SPInal NAVigation Trial

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05107310
Acronym
SPINAV
Enrollment
62
Registered
2021-11-04
Start date
2022-01-18
Completion date
2029-06-30
Last updated
2026-08-27

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Kyphosis, Scoliosis

Brief summary

The spinal navigation trial (SPINAV) is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating the use of computer-assisted navigation in surgery for spinal deformity

Detailed description

Spinal deformity is a common reason for spinal surgery at youth. In addition, the incidence of surgery for spinal deformity in older adults is increasing. Spinal deformity surgery is by far the most complex spine surgery. One complexity lies in the correct placement of implants in the severely deformed spine. Today, the most common surgical procedures for spinal deformity involve placement of screws in the vertebral pedicle in the instrumented part of the spine. This gives good bone purchase, which is important for deformity correction. The pedicle is narrow and misplaced pedicle screws can result in vascular, pulmonary or neural injuries, or inadequate bone purchase. Compared to the conventional free-hand surgical technique, which relies on the knowledge of anatomy, computer-assisted navigation using intraoperative 3D imaging has been shown to improve screw placement accuracy and reduce complications due to screw misplacements. As a consequence, navigation may also reduce the frequency of postoperative revision surgery compared to free hand. However, navigation still takes time, and is associated with higher intraoperative radiation than the free hand technique. As of yet, the majority of data in this area are based on retrospectively collected series, and some prospectively collected series, while randomized controlled trials on spinal deformity are lacking. In this randomized controlled trial the accuracy of pedicle screw placement using augmented reality surgical navigation (ARSN), infra-red surgical navigation (IRSN) and conventional free-hand technique will be investigated. Patients of age 12 years and older with spinal deformities are randomized into one of the three surgical techniques mentioned above. The primary outcome variable is pedicle screw placement accuracy at 1st attempt assessed using the Gertzbein scale. Data from the navigated groups (ASRN and IRSN) will be analyzed together, and compared with the free hand groups analyzed together. The ASRN and ISRN groups will also be compared with their respective free hand groups.

Interventions

PROCEDUREPedicle screws insertion by free hand technique

Spinal deformity correction. Pedicle screws are inserted using free hand technique with the help of intraoperative fluoroscopy if needed.

PROCEDUREPedicle screws insertion using ARSN

Spinal deformity correction. Pedicle screws are inserted using augmented reality surgical navigation (ARSN) with the ClarifEye navigation system and the Philips Allura 2D/3D imaging system.

PROCEDUREPedicle screws insertion using IRSN

Spinal deformity correction. Pedicle screws are inserted using infra-red surgical navigation (IRSN) with the Brainlab Curve 1.2 navigation system combined with the Medtronic O-arm 2D/3D imaging system.

Sponsors

Karolinska Institutet
Lead SponsorOTHER
Karolinska University Hospital
CollaboratorOTHER
Uppsala University
CollaboratorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
12 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Written informed consent by patient or legal guardian * Age 12 years and older * Spinal deformity surgery

Exclusion criteria

* Unable to give informed consent * Surgery without pedicle screws * Previous surgery with pedicle screws in the planned surgical area

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Accurately placed pedicle screwsIntraoperativeThe primary endpoint is the percentage of accurately placed pedicle screws assessed using the Gertzbein scale and based on intraoperative verification scan cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Pedicle screw intraoperative revision rates-clinical assessmentIntraoperativeNumber of screws intraoperatively revised based on clinical assessment
Pedicle screw intraoperative revision rates- neurophysiologyIntraoperativeNumber of screws intraoperatively revised based on neurophysiology
Pedicle screw intraoperative revision rates- intraoperative verificationIntraoperativeNumber of screws intraoperatively revised based on intraoperative verification CBCT scan
Accuracy for ARSN - path deviation in mmIntraoperativeDeviation from planned navigated path in mm at bone entry and screw tip measured on the postoperative computed tomography (CT)
Accuracy for IRSN- path deviation in mmIntraoperativeDeviation from navigated path in mm at bone entry and screw tip measured on the postoperative computed tomography (CT)
Accuracy for ARSN - angular deviationIntraoperativeAngular deviation (degrees) of the placed screw compared to the planned navigated path measured on the postoperative computed tomography (CT)
Accuracy for IRSN - angular deviationIntraoperativeAngular deviation of the placed screw compared to the navigated path measured on the postoperative computed tomography (CT)
Accuracy at 1st attemptIntraoperativeAccuracy at 1st attempt = (Screws placed at first attempt according to intraoperative protocols and graded 0 or 1) / (total number of placed screws). Assessed on intraoperative CBCT
Final accuracy of placed pedicle screwsIntraoperativeFinal accuracy of placed pedicle screws is calculated as: number of accurately placed screws (Gertzbein grade 0+1) according to postoperative CT / total number of placed screws.
Pedicle screw placement densityIntraoperativeThe study aims for 100% pedicle screw density. Hooks may be placed as rescue or if screw placement fails.
Pedicle screw placement in relation to morphometric measurementsPreoperative and intraoperativePedicle diameters are measured on preoperative and intraoperative CT. Pedicle screw placement measured on intraoperative and postoperative CT.
Deformity correction change3-6 months post-opCobb angle change from preoperative to first erect postoperative radiograph
Patient radiation dose exposureIntraoperativePatient radiation exposure (ED in mSv) for the whole procedure, Patient radiation exposure (ED in mSv) for fluoroscopy Patient radiation exposure (ED in mSv) for each CBCT
Staff radiation dose exposureIntraoperativeAverage staff radiation exposure (in mSv) for the whole procedure
Intraoperative characteristics- procedure timeIntraoperativeTotal procedure time as well as normalized to number of spinal levels from the upper to the lower instrumented vertebra.
Intraoperative characteristics- planning timeIntraoperativeIntraoperative planning time (from start of planning in navigation software until last screw planned) (only when treated with ARSN or IRSN)
Intraoperative characteristics- instrumentation timeIntraoperativeInstrumentation time (total time for navigated/FH screw placement from first to last screw placement)
Intraoperative characteristics- instrumentation time/levelIntraoperativeInstrumentation time normalized to number of levels
Intraoperative characteristics- time for verification imagingIntraoperativeTime for intraoperative verification imaging (CBCT and/or Fluoroscopy)
Intraoperative characteristics- screw placement timeIntraoperativeScrew placement time (per screw, from start with awl to screw placed)
Intraoperative characteristics- blood lossIntraoperativeIntraoperative blood loss
Inpatient stayMeasured from day of surgery until day of discharge. Usual length of stay is less than one week, and maximum two weeks.Length of hospital stay in days
Patient reported outcome measures- Scoliosis Research Society 22 revised (SRS-22r)up to 5 yearsThe scoliosis specific questionnaire SRS-22r ranging from 1 (worst) to 5 (best)
Patient reported outcome measures- the 24 item Early Onset Scoliosis Questionnaire (EOSQ-24)up to 5 yearsThe scoliosis specific questionnaire EOSQ-24 ranging from 0 (worst) to 100 (best)
Patient reported outcome measures- Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)up to 5 yearsThe back disabiliy questionnaire (ODI) ranging from 0 (best) to 100 (worst)
Patient reported outcome measures- EQ-5D 3 level version (EQ-5D-3L)up to 5 yearsThe generic quality of life EQ-5D-3L index ranging from -0.59 (worst) to 1.00 (best)
ComplicationsAt 30 days, at 90 daysNumber of patients that have had complications
Revision surgeryAt 30 days, at 90 days, at 1 yearNumber of patients that have undergone revision surgeries
Cost per patientAt 30 days, at 90 days, at 1 yearCost per patient

Countries

Sweden

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORPaul Gerdhem, MD, PhD

Karolinska Institutet

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Aug 28, 2026