Pedicle screw fixation has been proven to be a reliable technique in spinal surgery. It has been widely used, but the incidence of related complications increased, such as rupture, perforation and anatomical damage of important nerves and blood vessels. Scholars have adopted some auxiliary technologies and methods to improve its safety and reliability, such as electrophysiological monitoring technology, intraoperative fluoroscopy and computer tomography. Although these technologies are helpful to some extent, they all have certain limitations in clinical practice. Electronic conductivity device (ECD) is a new free-hand detection device, which can detect iatrogenic fracture of pedicle wall in real time. This review mainly introduces the structure and mechanism of ECD and its advantages and disadvantages in spinal surgery.