E. Stucchi, Mario De Robertis, Gabriele Capo, Ali Baram, Giuseppe De Gennaro Aquino, Donato Creatura, Leonardo Anselmi, Maurizio Fornari, Federico Pessina, Carlo Brembilla
Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Polyetheretherketone (CFR-PEEK) instrumentation is increasingly preferred in spinal oncology for its physical properties, minimizing imaging artifacts and facilitating precise postoperative radiotherapy planning and tumor surveillance. However, a significant technical limitation exists: the current unavailability of dedicated CFR-PEEK pedicle screws for the cervical spine. The smallest available implants are designed for thoracic use (minimum diameter 4.5 mm, minimum length 25 mm), posing substantial risks of neurovascular injury when applied to smaller cervical pedicles. We present a technical note/feasibility report illustrated by a single case of robot-assisted placement of thoracic CFR-PEEK screws in the cervical spine for the treatment of a C7 Giant Cell Tumor. Following neoadjuvant therapy with Denosumab, a single-stage, two-step circumferential resection and reconstruction was performed. The anterior step was complicated by an iatrogenic injury to the highly adherent left vertebral artery (VA), which was successfully repaired. Consequently, the posterior step required maximal precision to preserve the sole remaining intact VA on the right side. Given the anatomical mismatch between the 4.5 mm thoracic screws and the narrow cervical pedicles (measuring as narrow as 3.2 mm on the critical right side), robotic navigation (ExcelsiusGPS®) was utilized to plan and execute safe trajectories. Specifically, on the side of the intact VA, a small, controlled medial cortical violation was planned to avoid lateral vascular compromise. The procedure resulted in rigid, artifact-free stabilization with no immediate neurological sequelae. This single-case experience suggests that robotic guidance may facilitate adaptation of thoracic CFR-PEEK instrumentation to the cervical spine in selected oncologic scenarios; reproducibility, costs, and long-term outcomes remain uncertain.