Published literature has shown increased interest in computer-assisted orthopedic surgery among researchers, with the technology being used for surgical planning, simulation and navigation.
As the most advanced part of computer-assisted surgery, navigation and robotic technology have continued to evolve, leading augmented and virtual realities to become an interest among surgeons.
“Traditionally, surgeons would use their eyes and their intuition to help guide them as far as resecting bones and placing implants,” Matthew D. Saltzman, MD, orthopedic surgeon at Northwestern Medicine, told Healio | Orthopedics Today. “Overtime, things have evolved and there are robots, which are different; there is navigation, which has been around for a while. And augmented reality is a unique technology that allows you to have augmented computer graphics that overlay the patient’s anatomy via glasses. These graphics allow surgeons to have some additional guidance based on what they planned preoperatively while looking at the patient’s anatomy.”
Although the terms augmented reality and virtual reality are often used interchangeably, these are not the same applications, according to Joseph P. Iannotti, MD, chief research and academic officer at Cleveland Clinic Florida Market. He said augmented reality combines “a physical representation of the bone or the surgical site with something that is completely digital.”
“Where that is being used today is as a heads-up screen,” Iannotti said. “You may have a set of goggles on that, if you are looking through the bottom of the goggles, you are in the real world and if you gaze up, you are in the digital world.”
However, he said virtual reality is being applied “as an immersive learning environment that allows the learner to feel like they are in a virtual space that simulates the learning environment.”
By Casey Tingle | Orthopedics Today
Image Credit: PrecisionOS