Spine surgeon David Skaggs, MD, began using BoneMRI technology to avoid the need of a CT scan and used it alongside robotic-assistance.
BoneMRI allows for radiation-free and high-resolution images. Dr. Skaggs said in LinkedIn posts that he used it for a minimally invasive spondylolysis repair and pedicle screw placements. The technology is helping surgeons better diagnose children’s spine issues since BoneMRI cuts out the step of needing the extra CT scan.
It’s also showing potential alongside robotics.
“We did a step wise process of this first use to diagnose spondylolysis,” he said. “Then we compared it and found it was 95% accurate within one millimeter. In the first case I did, it was open so I could see with my own eyes that everything was perfect. The next case we did was percutaneous. What was special about the second case is even though we did an anterior lumbar interbody fusion first and put in a lot of metal, which is a challenge for any navigator robotic surgery, it performed absolutely perfectly. So we now have, as far as we know, the first model for using navigation without a CT scan and without radiation.”
While BoneMRI has been popular in pediatric cases, Dr. Skaggs said he expects the technology to gain ground in the general population as well.
“I think that this really is a disruptive technology, andI predict that we’re going to find this technology being used as a standard of care, probably within the next few years,” he said.
