Fishers, Ind.-based Central Indiana Orthopedics is positioning augmented reality as the next wave of surgical innovation after completing the first augmented-reality-assisted shoulder replacement in Indiana.
The procedure, performed July 28 at CIO’s outpatient surgery center, used the Arvis shoulder system, a headset-based technology that provides surgeons with real-time visual guidance without bulky navigation equipment or preoperative CT scans.
Robotic platforms often require hospitals or surgery centers to make multimillion-dollar investments, while augmented reality tools can deliver accuracy and efficiency at a fraction of the price, Brian Badman, MD, shoulder surgeon at Muncie-based Central Indiana Orthopedics told Becker’s. In his view, AR will become a more accessible option for many practices.
“I see a bigger role for augmented reality over robots,” Dr. Badman said. “The capital cost for a robot is significant … I believe augmented reality will be more acceptable because it’s cheaper.”
He added that AR helps surgeons place implants more accurately, which can elevate outcomes across the specialty.
“It makes the average surgeon a little bit better,” he said. “If you put things in a more anatomic position, the patient’s ultimately going to do better.”
Although new technology often comes with upfront costs, Dr. Badman said he has worked with vendors to avoid additional case-level expenses. He believes long-term, systemwide savings will come from fewer complications and revisions.
“In the short term, you might be spending a little bit more — $500 or $1,000 more per case,” he said. “But if you lessen complications down the road, the healthcare system saves money overall.”
Barriers remain, including learning curves and workflow integration. Dr. Badman noted that early cases added five to 10 minutes of surgical time, though he expects efficiency to improve as the technology evolves.
“There’s definitely a learning curve,” he said. “Anytime you bring something new, it’s always going to add a little bit of extra time … but I also don’t want to look back in 10 years and say. ‘I missed the boat.'”
He compared the transition to the adoption of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, which was once met with skepticism but is now the gold standard. Dr. Badman expects augmented reality to follow a similar trajectory. He also pointed to artificial intelligence and ambient clinical documentation as technologies that will reshape orthopedic care in the next decade.
“Data is going to be king in the next five to 10 years,” he said. “Augmented reality is going to allow us to take what we plan on a computer and extrapolate that live, in real time, during surgery.”
Looking ahead, Dr. Badman expects AR technology to continue advancing, including versions that eliminate the need for trackers and further streamline surgery.
“As technology gets better, costs come down,” he said. “I think we’re in the dawn of a huge era, and I’m hopeful it’s going to translate into good things — more time for patients and better outcomes.”
