Researchers at New York City-based Weill Cornell Medicine completed eight spinal tumor removals using augmented reality.
Protocol for minimally invasive and open AR-guided benign intradural extramedullary tumor resection was developed, and eight patients were enrolled. Surgeons marked the tumor on a diagnostic MRI using AR software, and during the procedure, the position and size of the tumor was projected into the field of view.
The average procedure time for minimally invasive cases was 128 minutes and 206 minutes for open cases. Corrections of the approach trajectory and ultrasound assistance weren't needed in any of the eight cases, and there were no intraoperative complications.
The study concluded that AR may be a "feasible technique for tumor localization in the MIS and open resection of benign spinal extramedullary tumors."
Read the full study, published Sept. 30 in Neurospine, here.