Augmented Reality Navigation in Surgery: A More Precise Reality? by

Summary

lbrown48_5 — 2025-01-18 19:06:04 UTC

Augmented reality navigation in spinal surgery provides the surgeon with additional information and guidance during surgery (Augmedics, n.d.). To use the augmented reality navigation a surgeon would wear a headpiece during surgery that would project an image that would overlay the actual patient (Augmedics, n.d.). This would enable the surgeon to see the patient’s anatomy in a three-dimensional format (Augmedics, n.d.). This helps with placement of screws during surgery (Burström et al., 2021). This is different from the way that spinal surgery is currently completed by choosing screw placement based on an image or model kept off the sterile field (Burström et al., 2021).

Video

lbrown48_5 — 2025-01-18 19:18:47 UTC

Photo

lbrown48_5 — 2025-01-18 19:30:03 UTC

This photo shows the augmented reality device the surgeons wear as well as the projected image.

Photo

lbrown48_5 — 2025-01-18 19:31:28 UTC

This photo shows what the surgeon is able to see during surgery, eliminating the need to look away from the operative site.

Strengths

lbrown48_5 — 2025-01-18 20:40:49 UTC

My five strengths are achiever, deliberate, responsibility, strategic, and context (Gallup, 2024). The achiever strength will help the team reach the goal (Gallup, 2024). The deliberate strength will help me anticipate obstacles (Gallup, 2024). The responsibility strength will help me take ownership of whatever tasks need to be completed (Gallup, 2024). The strategic strength will help me find alternate pathways when met with challenges (Gallup, 2024). The context strength helps me analyze the past when choosing the best path moving forward (Gallup, 2024).

Team

lbrown48_5 — 2025-01-18 20:41:53 UTC

The team that I would assemble would include Fernando, Matthew, Abraham, Rachel, and Isabelle. I chose Fernando because of his focus strength. This strength helps him to stay on track and meet the goal (Gallup, 2024). I chose Matthew because he is a maximizer. This strength helps him to strive to be the best and encourages the team to do the same (Gallup, 2024). I chose Abraham because he is an arranger. This strength helps him to organize the pieces for optimal functionality (Gallup, 2024). I chose Rachel because she is restorative. This strength helps her to identify and fix problems (Gallup, 2024). I chose Isabelle because she is an includer. This is someone who ensures that all members of the group are included, which helps strengthen the team (Gallup, 2024).

Pros

lbrown48_5 — 2025-01-18 20:42:29 UTC

Some of the benefits of using augmented reality include the surgeon being able to keep their eyes on the patient during surgery instead of needing to turn away to study models or images to verify screw placement, which increase the length of the surgery. (Burström et al., 2021). Another benefit is a higher accuracy of proper screw placement when compared to the traditional method (Burström et al., 2021). Additionally, the patient receives less radiation due to less radiography during the surgical case (Burström et al., 2021). Long-term successes include increased height and decreased pain (Burström et al., 2021).

Cons

lbrown48_5 — 2025-01-18 20:42:50 UTC

The cost of this navigation system is not mentioned, but often these devices increase the cost of a surgery without raising the rate of compensation (Burström et al., 2021). This results in the facility loosing money for each procedure. From working in the operating room I can share another con that I have witnessed. Sometimes surgeons rely too heavily on assistance from technology. If the technology fails, their skills are not as developed due to this reliance on the technology.

Opinion and Rationale

lbrown48_5 — 2025-01-18 20:47:42 UTC

After reading through the research, I believe that the many benefits of using the augmented reality navigation outweigh the negatives. As an operating room nurse, I have watched surgeons struggle with correct placement of screws, and watched them spend excess time turning away from the sterile field to study the images and models. This tool allows the surgery to be less invasive and completed in a shorter period of time. If I needed spinal surgery, I would want my surgeon to have access to this tool.

References

lbrown48_5 — 2025-01-18 23:35:47 UTC