Grant: Operating Grant

Each year more than 20,000 Canadians are treated surgically for lower back pain. Image-guided surgical techniques can reduce the number of complications that can arise in classical surgical techniques that can be as high as 20-30%. Intra-operative imaging (i.e., imaging during surgery) can further reduce risks by improving accuracy and precision in the placement of pedicular screws used for lumbar fixation. This project will investigate the use of intra-operative ultrasound as an inexpensive alternative to intra-operative images using computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We will develop techniques to precisely identify the boney surface of the vertebrae in both pre-operative CT and intra-operative ultrasound and use this information to improve patient-image registration required for image-guided spine surgery. This in turn will improve the accuracy in guidance and precision of screw placement and result in better care for the patient.