Augmented Reality-assisted Pedicle Instrumentation: Versatility Across Major Instrumentation Sets

Area of Science:

• Spine Surgery
• Medical Technology
• Augmented Reality Applications

Background:

• Augmented Reality (AR) is an emerging technology with growing applications in the medical field, particularly in spine surgery.
• Key features for AR in surgery include ergonomic headpieces, processing power, intuitive interfaces, and reliable accuracy.
• System versatility across different instrumentation sets is crucial for cost-effectiveness and efficient clinical integration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the capability of an Augmented Reality (AR) system to track surgical instruments from multiple companies.
• To assess the adaptability of the AR system without requiring major modifications to existing instrumentation.

Main Methods:

• A laboratory investigation utilizing five phantom spine models instrumented with pedicle screws from five major companies (L1-S1).
• Augmented Reality (AR) assistance was employed for all instrumentations.
• Generic 3D-printed navigation markers were attached to each screwdriver for AR tracking.

Main Results:

• All tested instrumentation sets were successfully paired with the AR navigation imaging system.
• Sixty pedicle screws were inserted with an average time of 1.6 minutes per screw, indicating a learning curve.
• Radiographic outcomes were equivocal across all systems, with a 3% (2 screws) breach rate.

Conclusions:

• Currently available surgical instrumentation sets can be readily tracked by the Augmented Reality (AR) system.
• The active tracking of instrument drivers by the AR system enhances surgical accuracy.
• The AR system presents a valuable adjunct to existing instrumentation techniques in spine surgery.