South Shore University Hospital Performs First Spinal Surgery in Suffolk County Using Augmented Reality Navigation Platform
In a groundbreaking medical achievement, neurosurgeons at South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore, NY, successfully performed Suffolk County’s first-ever spinal surgery using an augmented reality navigation platform. The hospital announced on Tuesday that surgeons utilized the Augmedics xvision Spine System to stabilize the spine of a patient with complications from a prior surgery.
The Augmedics xvision Spine System is an augmented reality guidance tool for spine surgery that allows surgeons to see a perfectly replicated 3D model of a patient’s specific spine during implant surgery. By wearing a headset that projects 2D and 3D navigation into their line of sight, surgeons are provided with real-time visualization of the patient’s internal anatomy based on preoperative CT scans.
The patient, 71-year-old Jeffrey Bargeski, had previously undergone a spine fusion surgery that was complicated by postoperative infection, leading to back pain, difficulty walking, and leg weakness. Dr. Yike Jin, the lead surgeon, prescribed medications to improve Bargeski’s bone quality and eliminate any lingering infection before proceeding with the revision surgery.
The surgery, which spanned over eight hours, required an extensive decompression thoracolumbar spinal fusion from T8 to the pelvis. Dr. Jin, along with partner Dr. Ann Liu, utilized the Augmedics xvision system to guide them through the complex procedure. Dr. Jin explained, “In traditional navigation, surgeons rely on external monitors and must look away from the patient and surgical site while placing spinal instrumentation, but with Augmedics, the navigation and CT imaging is overlaid directly into our field of view. This allows us to keep our eyes on the patient to place screws more accurately, making the surgery safer.”
Although this was the first use of Augmedics in Suffolk County for spine surgery, Dr. Jin and Dr. Liu have been using the technology since 2020 during their time at Johns Hopkins Hospital. They have published a case series showing a 98 percent accuracy rate in 205 augmented reality guided screws in 28 consecutive patients.
Dr. Liu expressed excitement about bringing this cutting-edge technology to South Shore University Hospital, stating, “We are lucky to have been part of the first group of spine surgeons to use Augmedics and are excited to use it at South Shore University Hospital to help ensure that we provide the best spine care possible for our patients.”
The Augmedics xvision system not only improves precision but also offers potential built-in safety features, such as alerts when drilling too deeply, providing an additional layer of protection for patients undergoing spinal surgery. This innovative technology is revolutionizing the field of neurosurgery and paving the way for safer and more effective procedures for patients in Suffolk County and beyond.
