Inferior gluteal artery detection at the greater sciatic notch with a computer-assisted navigation system during pelvic and sacral tumor resection

Abstract

Background: During pelvic and sacral tumor resection, important vessels, such as the inferior gluteal artery underneath the sciatic notch, are easily injured because of their invisibility. We employed a computer-assisted navigation system to preserve the inferior gluteal artery at the sciatic notch with visualization of the inferior gluteal artery at the sciatic notch, thus maintaining blood flow to the gluteus maximus.

Methods: We present the results of seven patients (five men and two women) with a mean age of 64.8 years (58.4–78.8) in whom computer-assisted navigation surgery had been carried out for pelvic and sacral tumor resections.

Results: Postoperative enhanced computed tomography (CT) confirmed the preservation of the inferior gluteal artery in all cases. At a mean follow-up of 21.3 months (3–39), the total postoperative complication rate was 25% (n = 2), including hematoma (n = 1) and wound necrosis (n = 1). There were no cases of deep infection.

Conclusion: This new application of computer-assisted navigation to pelvic and sacral tumor resection can contribute to reducing postoperative complications related to insufficient flap perfusion.

Keywords:

• Computer-assisted navigation
• inferior gluteal artery detection
• orthopedic surgery
• pelvic tumor resection
• postoperative complication

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

The authors did not receive any outside funding or grants in support of their research or for the preparation of this work. Neither they nor any member of their immediate families received payments or other benefits or a commitment or agreement to provide such benefits from any commercial entity. No commercial entity paid or directed, or agreed to pay or direct, any benefits to any research fund, foundation, division, center, clinical practice, or other charitable or nonprofit organization with which the authors, or any member of their immediate families, are affiliated or associated.