Automatic determination of pedicle screw size, length, and trajectory from patient data.

Pedicle screw insertion is an orthopaedic spinal fixation procedure involving the placement of screws through individual spine pedicles and secured in spinal vertebrae. Pedicle anatomy varies widely within and across the patient population, and many complications have been reported with the surgical technique. To reduce complications, an automated procedure was developed that utilizes patient-specific medical imaging data to predetermine optimum pedicle screw size, length, and trajectory.