Three neurosurgeons from Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore reportedly performed the first spinal fusion on a living patient using augmented reality, CBS Baltimore reports.
Three things to know:
1. Timothy Witham, MD, Daniel Sciubba, MD, and Camilo Molina, MD, performed the novel procedure, which placed six pedicle screws in a patient's spine.
2. The AR system features a headset that allows for real-time projection of spinal anatomy.
3. Interest in AR has grown significantly in spine over the past decade, stemming from a desire to limit complications associated with instrumented spine surgery and improving procedural efficiency.