Orthopedic surgeon Juan Toribio, MD, and VisAR augmented-reality navigation co-inventor Wendell Gibby, MD, have performed the first-ever immersive 3D spinal surgery using augmented reality guidance with combined silhouette and X-ray registration.
The procedure, successfully performed at Hospital Son Llàtzer in Mallorca, Spain, does not require a CT scanner or a navigation tower, according to a May 6 news release.
Traditional spinal navigation relies on CT scanners and navigation towers, which cost systems over $1 million. This can limit the ability for traditional systems to access more advanced surgical techniques.
The new procedure, using VisAR, can be implemented in hospitals for a much lower cost. VisAR simply includes a headset worn by a surgeon with no computers, towers, monitors or scanners needed.
Before the surgery, Drs. Toribio and Gibby acquired patient images using a CT scanner and the 3D dataset was superimposed onto the patient in augmented reality.
The physician team was then able to navigate four screws into the spine for fusion, as well as a disc insert, according to the release.
Dr. Toribio has begun a clinical trial with the new technology and additional cases are scheduled this month.
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