Assessing the Accuracy of Spinal Instrumentation Using Augmented Reality (AR): A Systematic Review of the Literature...

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Medical Technology
• Orthopedic Surgery

Background:

• Pedicle screw placement is critical for spinal instrumentation accuracy.
• Traditional methods face challenges in achieving precise screw positioning.
• Augmented reality (AR) offers potential for enhanced surgical navigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a meta-analysis evaluating the accuracy of pedicle screw placement using AR-based systems.
• To synthesize existing evidence on AR system performance in spinal surgery.
• To assess the reliability of AR for accurate spinal instrumentation.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis of studies from PubMed/MEDLINE.
• Inclusion of 8 studies involving 163 patients and 1259 pedicle screws.
• Analysis of data from AR systems including XVision (XVS) and Allura AR surgical navigation system (ARSN).

Main Results:

• The overall accuracy of pedicle screw placement using AR systems was 97.2%.
• No statistically significant difference in accuracy was found between XVS and Allura ARSN systems.
• High confidence interval (95% CI 96.2-98.1%) indicates reliable results.

Conclusions:

• AR technology enables reliable and accurate placement of spinal instrumentation.
• AR systems demonstrate significant potential to improve surgical precision in spine procedures.
• Future research should explore comparative studies, cost-effectiveness, and impact on operative time and radiation exposure.