Dr. Donnally, of Addison-based Texas Spine Consultants, performed the first cannula navigated augmented reality case using Spineology’s technology and instruments, according to an email shared with Becker’s.
Dr. Donnally shared his insight about the technology with Becker’s.
Note: Responses were lightly edited.
Question: Why should this technique excite both spine surgeons and patients?
Dr. Chester Donnally: This surgery combined three of four different minimally invasive techniques into one single technique. It was the first time anyone navigated the cannula tool for this procedure with AR. Yes, there’s nothing too novel these days about navigation, minimally invasive fusions or augmented reality. But, using all of these to make a surgery shorter and recovery faster is rewarding. These technologies were created and tested by many of my mentors and now it’s time for the next group to incorporate them. Pushing the abilities of current technology to rapidly enhance patient recovery is quite exciting for surgeons in terms of looking at outcome measures. It is exciting for patients in terms of getting back to enjoying their life sooner.
Q: How else are you using or planning to use this technology in your practice?
CD: There are several techniques being considered here, but all have the same underlying concept, which is smaller incisions. This less exposure speeds up surgery, reduces post-op pain and hopefully improves the recovery experience. There are also many aspects of these surgeries that help with patient safety. Navigated pedicle screws are more accurate, and there is convincing data that there is less adjacent facet disruption. Additionally, minimally invasive options for interbody (cage/spacer) placement are very desirable and have many obvious benefits to the patient and surgeon.
Q: How prevalent will mixed reality technology be in spine care in the next five years? How might the technology evolve?
CD: I see it growing but pretty slowly due to the current cost constraints and may be 10 years before it is used in almost every spine procedure.
The future for all navigation is very bright and provides a huge disruption to the industry in that it no longer will require intra-op CT, pre-op CT or large expensive machines. Instead, it will allow for registration from a pre-op MRI and 3D touch point feedback. No need for intra-op fluoroscopy registrations, no need for intra-op CT, no need for huge headsets. All of this AR is going to be much faster while much smaller. We just need more pioneers and industry collaboration.
