On October 17th, the Neurosurgery Team at Taichung Veterans General Hospital performed the first-ever spinal scoliosis correction in Taiwan using Augmented Reality (AR) glasses combined with intraoperative navigation technology for a 27-year-old patient named Tsai. Tsai, who had suffered from chronic back pain due to scoliosis, expressed her satisfaction with the procedure, stating that a month after surgery, she has made a remarkable recovery and bid farewell to a life of discomfort.
Reporter: Zhao Rongxuan / Photography
Dr. Yang Meng-yin, the Director of Neurosurgery at Taichung Veterans General Hospital, explained that during the surgery, real-time 3D scans of the spine were obtained in the hybrid operating room. This information, combined with augmented reality glasses and intraoperative navigation systems, allowed for the immediate projection of 3D images of the spinal curvature onto the patient. This technique effectively helped surgeons navigate around high-risk areas, reducing surgical complications, enhancing safety, and replacing the traditional, time-consuming image registration and positioning in surgery. The result is a shorter surgery duration, reduced pain sensation, and faster postoperative recovery.
Reporter: Zhao Rongxuan / Photography
Tsai mentioned that she sought medical attention for her spinal curvature issue during elementary school. However, due to hearing about numerous surgical failures at the time, she was hesitant to undergo surgery. Over the years, she experienced joint and muscle pain throughout her body, requiring medication for relief. Her mobility decreased, and she began to face difficulties in breathing and loss of appetite, significantly impacting her daily life.
Dr. Yang Meng-yin explained that clinical surveys indicate that the incidence of scoliosis in Taiwanese adolescents is approximately 5% to 10%. Surgery is recommended for cases with a curvature angle exceeding 40 degrees. Tsai's case involved thoracolumbar scoliosis combined with spinal rotation. Traditional surgeries using steel screws pose challenges due to the large angle variations and a high risk of positional errors. By adopting augmented reality smart surgical glasses combined with intraoperative navigation technology, the precision of screw placement was enhanced, reducing surgical time and lowering the risk of complications. Post-surgery, Tsai experienced a height increase of 3 cm, and her curvature angle was restored to less than 10 degrees, nearly returning to a normal upright posture.
Dr. Yang Meng-yin emphasized that traditional surgeries involve larger incisions, sometimes requiring abdominal exploration, with a surgery duration of approximately ten to twelve hours and a recovery period of around three months. However, augmented reality smart surgery, coupled with intraoperative navigation technology, significantly shortened the surgery time to 3.5 hours, reduced anesthesia time, minimized incision size, lowered blood loss, reduced pain sensation, and expedited postoperative recovery.
The scoliosis treatment team at Taichung Veterans General Hospital's Neurosurgery Department continually strives to enhance the safety and convenience of surgeries through cutting-edge medical technology. Apart from being the first in Taiwan to introduce augmented reality technology for scoliosis correction surgeries, the team also utilizes augmented reality for preoperative explanations and instructions. This approach aims to provide patients with a clearer understanding of the surgical procedures and risks, thereby reducing preoperative anxiety and uneasiness.
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