Menger presented research on spinal instrumentation. He discussed the safety of the freehand pedicle screw technique without the use of X-ray guidance, navigation or robotic surgery.
“The focus is on safety, efficiency and anatomy,” said Menger, assistant professor of neurosurgery at the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine. “With over 1,800 pedicle screws placed, we were able to prove that our instrumentation complication rate was equal to or less than that of robotic or other expensive technology dependent techniques.”
The research began during the summer session in 2022 in collaboration with USA Health’s orthopaedics department and the help of Maxon Basset, medical student at the Whiddon College of Medicine, and Patrick Young, M.D., orthpaedics resident at USA Health.
“This research would not have been possible without the University of South Alabama’s commitment to research and funding through the Medical Student Research Program,” Menger said.
