Mayo Clinic Minute – What is Augmented reality spine surgery?

For millions of people, back pain is a literal pain in the back. Thankfully, most back problems can be treated conservatively, but for people with severe low back pain caused from arthritis, cancer or degeneration, spine surgery can make a huge difference in their quality of life.

Spine surgery is a big deal and not without its risks. But technology is making a difference. Innovations, like augmented reality, allow surgeons to see critical structures without creating larger incisions. Mayo Clinic resident Dr. Miles Hudson, who works with neurosurgeon Dr. Maziyar Kalini, says, “There's a lot of very vital structures that we have to move out of the way and or avoid to get these surgeries done safely. Augmented reality lets us enhance our visual senses.”
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