Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2025
06:18
Pedicle Screw Placement Using an Augmented Reality Head-Mounted Display in a Porcine Model
Published on: May 24, 2024
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Virtual and Augmented Reality in Spine Surgery: A Systematic Review
Kyle McCloskey1, Ryan Turlip2, Hasan S Ahmad2
1Department of Neurosurgery, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
World Neurosurgery
|February 22, 2023
Summary
Augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) enhance spine surgery training, planning, and intraoperative guidance. These technologies show potential for improved accuracy and reduced radiation exposure, but require further development and standardization.
Area of Science:
- Spine surgery innovations
- Medical technology integration
- Surgical education advancements
Background:
- Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are increasingly adopted in spinal surgery.
- This systematic review examines AR/VR applications in surgical education, preoperative planning, and intraoperative guidance.
Approach:
- A comprehensive literature search was performed across PubMed, Embase, and Scopus.
- 48 studies were included and categorized into surgical training, preoperative planning, intraoperative usage, and radiation exposure.
Key Points:
- VR-assisted training improved accuracy and reduced errors compared to traditional methods.
- Preoperative VR planning enhanced surgical recommendations and reduced operative time and blood loss.
- AR-assisted pedicle screw placement demonstrated high accuracy (95.77%-100%), with reduced radiation exposure reported in several studies.
Conclusions:
- AR/VR technologies offer transformative potential in spine surgery.
- Further research is needed to establish technical requirements, expand intraoperative applications beyond pedicle screw placement, and address registration errors through automated methods.
