Spine Surgery Assisted by Augmented Reality: Where Have We Been?

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Medical Technology
• Surgical Navigation

Background:

• Augmented reality (AR) technology is increasingly explored in medical fields.
• Spinal surgery presents complex challenges requiring advanced navigation and visualization tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the literature on augmented reality (AR) in spine surgery.
• To summarize the current status, applications, and limitations of AR in spinal procedures.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of major databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Embase) up to April 2021.
• Analysis of 45 included articles focusing on AR device workflows, pros/cons, and surgical applications.
• Categorization of prevalent AR applications and surgical levels.

Main Results:

• Augmented reality surgical navigation systems and head-mounted displays are the most common AR applications.
• Pedicle screw instrumentation in thoracic and lumbar spine surgery is the most popular use case for AR.
• While AR guidance shows high potential, current studies have a limited number of cases and lack long-term clinical efficacy data.

Conclusions:

• Augmented reality technology holds significant potential for enhancing spinal surgery.
• Further research with robust statistical data is needed to establish long-term clinical efficacy and validate AR's value.
• Evolving healthcare regulations and the rise in spinal surgeries will drive data generation for AR technology assessment.