New CT-guided screw technique may spare spine patients from repeat surgery

This study tested a minimally invasive procedure called CT-guided trans-facet screw fixation for 24 patients whose spine became unstable after a prior back surgery (laminectomy). Instead of open surgery under general anesthesia, the procedure uses a CT scan to guide small screws into the spine under local anesthesia. The goal was to see if this gentler approach could reduce pain and improve daily activities, potentially avoiding the need for another major operation.