The role of Intraoperative 3D navigation for pelvic bone tumor resection

Interventional 3D analysis is often used for surgery of the spine. The goal of this study was to describe the technique and initial results of intraoperative 3D CT navigation (O-Arm, Medtronic, Louisville, CO, USA) for surgery of the pelvis. Six patients were included, five with primary bone tumors and one with post-traumatic non-union. All CT procedures were completed without modifying the surgical technique, except one case in which the device had to be reinstalled during surgery. The duration of surgery was not increased and lasted for a mean 224 minutes (96–380). Recorded radiation was between 450–1125 mGrey/cm. All procedures were performed according to the preoperative plan resulting in systematic resection with a safe surgical margin (R0). One surgical site infection occurred. Although these operations could have been performed without 3-D navigation, this technique provided continuous intraoperative control and safety.Level of evidenceIV.