News break: New augmented reality-guided spinal surgery a first for Suffolk County

Neurosurgeons at South Shore University Hospital (SSUH) have performed Suffolk County’s first-ever spinal surgery using an augmented reality navigation platform. The complex surgery, conducted on August 16, involved the placement of spinal instrumentation with the Augmedics xvision Spine System in a patient who previously experienced complications from an earlier surgery.

Read the full story in Northwell's Newsroom. 

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
South Shore University Hospital neurosurgeons perform Suffolk County’s first augmented reality guided spinal surgery.

(00:07):
This article, written by Miriam Sholder, appeared in the Northwell Newsroom on October 15, 2024.
Neurosurgeons at South Shore University Hospital have performed Suffolk County’s first-ever spinal surgery using an augmented reality navigation platform.
The complex surgery completed on August 16 involved the placement of spinal instrumentation with the Augmedics xvision Spine System in a patient who previously experienced complications from an earlier surgery.

(00:36):
The patient,71 year old Jeffrey Bargeski,had undergone a spinal fusion surgery 10 months prior that was complicated by postoperative infection.
He continued to suffer from back pain, difficulty walking and leg weakness.
He also developed instrumentation issues with screws becoming dislodged from the bone and partial collapse of his spinal column causing narrowing of and pressure on his spinal cord.

(01:02):
After meeting the patient in April,the lead surgeon Doctor Yike Jin prescribed medications to improve his bone quality and eliminate any lingering infection.
The surgery required an extensive decompression thoracolumbar spinal fusion from T8 to the pelvis— a highly complex procedure that spanned over eight hours.

Doctor Jin described the case (01:22):
“Revision surgeries are inherently more challenging because the anatomy is no longer normal after previous operations.
" In addition to Doctor Jin, Doctor Ann Liu helped perform the operation.
Although this was the first use of Augmedics in Suffolk County for spine surgery,
Doctors Jin and Liu have been using the technology since 2020 during their time at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

(01:48):
They also published the first case series of 205 augmented reality guided screws in 28 consecutive patients and found the system had a 98% accuracy.

Doctor Liu commented that (01:59):
“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 X-vision Spine System utilizes a headset that projects 2D and 3D navigation into the surgeon's line of sight,

(02:21):
providing real-time visualization of the patient’s internal anatomy based on preoperative CT scans.

Doctor Jin explained (02:27):
“The Augmedics X-vision system was instrumental in guiding us through this revision surgery.
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.

(02:50):
This allows us to keep our eyes on the patient to place screws more accurately making the surgery safer.
" The technology not only improves precision but also has the potential for built-in safety features such as alerts when drilling too deeply,
providing an additional layer of protection for patients.
Reflecting on this milestone surgery,Doctor Daniel Shoeba,

the senior vice president and chair of neurosurgery for Northwell Health said (03:12):
“I foresee using this technology for all complex spinal fusion surgeries,
particularly revisions,spine tumor surgeries,and cases involving abnormal anatomy.
It’s the next frontier in ensuring safety and precision in the operating room.