Navigation-Guided Surgical Removal of an Orthodontic Miniscrew Accidentally Displaced Into the Prevertebral Space

Abstract

In a challenging and extremely rare case, a 40-year-old female presented with an orthodontic miniscrew inadvertently lodged in the prevertebral space near the internal carotid artery following an incident at a local clinic. Traditional blind removal techniques posed significant risks due to the miniscrew’s dangerous location. An optical navigation system that utilized advanced real-time tracking and 3D imaging to precisely locate and safely remove the foreign body was applied. The successful procedure, confirmed by postoperative imaging, underscored the vital role of navigation-guided surgery in enhancing surgical precision and patient safety in complex cases.