Introduction

The field of spine surgery has witnessed a remarkable evolution over the past decade, owing much of its progress to the advent of navigation technologies. These advancements have significantly enhanced a surgeon’s ability to achieve robust and safe spinal fixation, offering improved precision compared to traditional, nonnavigated techniques. Navigation has not only made it possible to place spinal fixation with greater accuracy, even in cases of severe deformities, but it has also ushered in a new era of minimally invasive approaches for spinal procedures. In this textbook, we embark on an exploration of navigation in spine surgery, unraveling the intricacies of three primary navigation modalities: 3D image-based computer-assisted navigation (CAN), robotic-assisted navigation (RAN), and 3D patient-specific drill guides for navigation (3DP).