PMC6589283_01
(a) Sagittal, (b) coronal, and (c) axial computer tomography angiography views, revealing the broken no. 11th scalpel blade in front of the L4/L5 intervertebral space.
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CT angiography scan was performed, in order to locate the broken instrument (Figure 1). CT angiography revealed that the main vessels were intact, while the broken surgical knife was located anterior to the lumbar spine at the L4/L5 level and to the left of the aorta.
Intraoperative pictures of the robot-assisted removal of the broken blade.
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The scalpel was slowly removed with extreme care not to traumatize the vessels (Figure 2).