Computer-assisted spinal navigation using a percutaneous dynamic reference frame for posterior fusions of the lumbar spine.

We report a 6-year retrospective review of screw placement utilizing a percutaneous dynamic reference frame attached to the posterior superior iliac spine performed by a single orthopedic surgeon. We included all lumbar spine procedures utilizing computer-assisted spinal navigation (StealthStation Navigation System, Medtronic Navigation, Louisville, Colo) performed from 2000 to 2005, with 272 of 289 patients (94.1%) having at least a 4-month follow-up with radiographs. Six hundred seventy-two screws were placed. Following surgery, none of these patients had screw misplacements. One patient (0.4%) had a screw backing out of the pedicle. Eighteen patients (6.6%) had their posterior instrumentation removed. Three had repeat operations but did not have their instrumentation removed. No patient with repeat operations had a screw misplaced.