Augmented Reality Applications Gain Traction in Orthopedics

Augmented reality (AR) has proven to be applicable to a variety of industries and use cases over the years. What started as a military technology two decades ago has been leveraged in everything from video games to orthopedic surgeries.

The technology differs from virtual reality in that it uses the real-life physical space you are in and adds a 3-dimensional layer of tech-enabled visualization on top of it. Virtual reality, on the other hand, is a completely virtual space with a fake environment.

AR provides endless opportunities for orthopedic surgeons in the education space, pre-operative planning, live surgery and many other scenarios.

“It gives us, essentially, x-ray vision. It’s like being one of those superheroes in cartoons of old,” said Stefano Bini, M.D., University of California San Francisco. “One of the interesting things about this technology is that because it is visual, it’s actually very readily accessed.”

With the evolution of orthopedic technology from x-rays to navigation and robotics to 3D modeling, a surgeon’s ability to visualize the problem and find the right solution has benefited from incremental improvements over previous technologies.

“[With AR] you can now know exactly what the hip replacement needs to look like before you even start the procedure,” said Jonathan M. Vigdorchik, M.D., Hospital for Special Surgery. “It’s not only helpful for the complex cases, it’s also helpful for the routine cases in terms of ease of use and efficiency.”

While AR gives surgeons a powerful tool for real time assessment and navigation, it also is a time-saver and reduces variability, taking out a lot of the guesswork and exploration during a live surgery.

By | BONEZONE

Image Credit: Pixee Medical

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About Peter Coffaro 472 Articles
A growth-driven and strategic executive, Peter Coffaro commands more than 25 years of progressive management success within the medical device industry. Recognized by the World Journal of Orthopedics, Exponential Healthtech, and MedReps.com as one of the top medical sales influencers in the industry; he has 10 years of combined sales management experience and has held positions as a Director, General Manager, Distributor, and Vice President. Peter has worked for some of the top orthopedic companies in the world - Zimmer, DePuy, and Stryker. He is also the founder of OrthoFeed: a popular blog that covers digital orthopedic news and emerging medical technologies. Peter is a three-time Hall of Fame award winner at Johnson and Johnson and has an extensive background in organizational development, business development, sales management, digital marketing, and professional education. Peter holds a B.S. degree in Biology and Chemistry from Northern Illinois University.

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