ARIZONA NEWS

Arizona surgeon uses augmented reality for state’s first-of-its-kind spinal surgery

Jun 27, 2023, 4:35 AM | Updated: 7:16 am

PHOENIX — An Arizona surgeon is using technology on a spinal surgery that is the first of its kind in the state. 

Dr. Maziyar Kalani operated on a patient at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix in May using augmented reality. 

Augmented reality-guided spine surgery allows surgeons to see a patient’s spine in 3D through the skin during minimally invasive spinal surgery.

While augmented reality has been used for several years for brain surgeries, Kalani recognized how beneficial it could be for his own work, which can include everything from removing a tumor to degenerative spine surgery to repair pinched nerves or arthritis. 

“Once you kind of push the boundary and try one of these things, it immediately becomes obvious what else you can apply it to,” Kalani told KTAR News 92.3 FM.

The technology also allows surgeons to wear specialized goggles that produce the augmented reality image.

“The imaging is really good at telling us how big it is before surgery, but sometimes you open the patient and you’re wondering if what you’re seeing fits on the preoperative imaging,” Kalani said. 

The augmented reality technology helps remove some of that guesswork. 

“You see in relation into that imaging how big it is on your screen, so you take out just what’s on your screen. Nothing more and hopefully nothing less,” Kalani said.

The images are not your standard black and white X-ray. By combining multiple images, doctors can now create multicolor 3-D models. 

Emma Royster, the XR Program Lead at Surgical Theater, helps create those images. 

“This basically has all of their images fused together as one. Right here, we’re highlighting the CT scan. You can see the bones, so that’s what you’re going to get from the CT scan and then we’ve used the MRIs to segment out further details,” Royster said.

With these 3-D images, doctors can rotate, zoom and even add and remove sections like bones, muscles and organs to get a better view — or make sure they do not cut anything they shouldn’t. 

“Before this, they were using their best judgment with the technology they have, and this gives them a more definitive idea of exactly how they’re going to be going into the spine and avoiding those critical structures,” she said.

Dr. Kalani said that doesn’t just help them plan for surgeries, it also helps them during one.

“You can take that 3D model, go into the OR (operating room) and using some of the microscope technology, exoscope technology, endoscope technology, overlay these three-dimensional models onto the actual person you’re operating on,” Kalani said.

He said that means an increase in the number of safer and less invasive surgeries. 

“We can really focus on doing minimally invasive surgery because we don’t have to see everything in the open to do the job well,” Kalani said.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

$50K winning Powerball ticket sold in Scottsdale Safeway...

Serena O'Sullivan

Powerball ticket worth $50K sold in Scottsdale grocery store

A winning Powerball ticket worth $50,000 was recently sold in a Safeway in Scottsdale, according to a Tuesday Arizona Lottery news release.

16 minutes ago

Brady Fire...

Danny Shapiro

Brady Fire forces evacuations for residents south of Prescott

The Brady Fire that sparked Monday afternoon forced evacuations for some residents south of Prescott, authorities said.

1 hour ago

Avondale man killed by Florida police after killing 2...

Serena O'Sullivan

Avondale man shot by Florida deputies after killing 2 in armed gas station robbery

Avondale man Dominic Caroway was killed in Florida after leading multiple law enforcement agencies on a manhunt following a fatal armed robbery.

2 hours ago

Arizona gas prices have risen by 28 cents per gallon in the last month....

Kevin Stone

Here’s why Arizonans are feeling more pain at pump than most of nation

Arizona gas prices have been rising at a significantly faster pace than the rest of the nation over the last month, and the worst is yet to come.

4 hours ago

Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap has downsized his external communications staff from seven to ...

Associated Press

New Maricopa County recorder signals shift away from combating disinformation

Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap is moving away from the office's previous efforts to combat misinformation.

5 hours ago

2025 flu season worse than it's been in 15 years, data shows...

Serena O'Sullivan

Arizona nurse practitioner says this flu season is worse than last

The 2025 flu season is hitting Arizonans hard, with some patients staying sick for a whole week, according to a Banner Health nurse practitioner.

7 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Bright Wealth Management

How IRAs are a helpful tool in retirement planning

When it comes to retirement planning, individual retirement accounts (IRAs) can be a great tool for income growth.

...

Fiesta Bowl Foundation

Join us for the 52nd annual Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade

The 52nd annual Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe returns on Saturday, December 28, at 10 a.m.

...

The UPS Store

How The UPS Store is giving back to the community

PHOENIX -- As 2024 nears a close, The UPS Store is looking to give back to the Arizona community with the holiday season approaching.

Arizona surgeon uses augmented reality for state’s first-of-its-kind spinal surgery