A method for the fluoroscopic registration in real time for placement of pedicle screws or the like during spinal surgery, comprising creating a lateral image in which a pedicle has appropriate anatomic contour and superior endplate, advancing a pin into the pedicle starting in the posterior cortex and moved far enough into the pedicle to anchor the pin, rotating the fluoroscopy to obtain an AP image of the pedicle which is moved to render the pin to be neutral in a cephalad to candad direction, and positioning a pedicle screw in the pedicle following 2D contour mapping generated by manual or automated templating.
