Brian Rebolledo, MD, of Scripps Clinic in San Diego, became the first surgeon in Southern California to use a mixed reality headset for shoulder replacements, the Times of San Diego reported July 5.
The system lets surgeons use hand gestures and voice commands to view and manipulate a hologram of a patient's preoperative plan during cases. Scripps Clinic is one of 33 facilities in the U.S. offering mixed reality technology.
"Being able to view the entire surgical plan during the operation is a big advantage for patients because it can help surgeons replicate the pre-op plan with precision," Dr. Rebolledo said in the report. "Having a detailed 3D model of the patient’s surgical plan directly in our sights in real time opens up a new window to help further enhance the procedure."