Due to ergonomic issues with dual-screen devices, augmented reality devices with the capacity to overlay images onto the surgical field will be key features of next-generation surgical head-up displays.

Background: With the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting many facets of our society, physicians and patients have begun using telemedicine as a platform for the delivery of health care. One of the challenges in implementing telemedicine for the spine care provider is completing a comprehensive spinal examination. Currently, there is no standardized methodology to complete a full spinal examination through telemedicine.Methods: We propose a novel, remote spinal examination methodology that is easily implemented through telemedicine, where the patient is an active participant in the successful completion of his or her examination. This type of examination has been validated in a neurology setting. To facilitate the telemedicine visit, we propose that video instruction be shared with the patient prior to the telemedicine visit to increase the efficacy of the examination.Results: Since the issuance of stay-at-home order across the states, many spine practices around the country have rapidly adopted and increased their telemedicine program to continue provide care for patients during COVID-19 pandemic. At a tertiary academic center in a busy metropolitan area, nearly 700 telemedicine visits were successfully conducted during a 4-week period. There were no remote visits being done prior to the shutdown.Conclusions: Implementation of our proposed remote spinal examination has the potential to serve as a guideline for the spine care provider to efficiently assess patients with spine disease using telemedicine. Because these are only suggestions, providers should tailor examination to each individual patient's needs.Level of Evidence: V. Clinical Relevance: It is likely that physicians will incorporate telemedicine into health care delivery services even after the COVID-19 pandemic subsides because of telemedicine's efficiency in meeting patient needs. Using the standard maneuvers provided in our study, spine care providers can perform a nearly comprehensive spine examination through telemedicine. Further studies will be needed to validate the reproducibility and reliability of our methodology.

A wearable head-up display can benefit current neuronavigation systems, but larger, outcomes-based trials are needed. Higher processing speed would allow streaming of higher resolution images. Along with an enlarged display, these may significantly improve utilization of this technology. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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This study demonstrates the feasibility and safety of using the PED to treat IC-RBA with fair initial results. The proper introduction and management of antiplatelet regimen are key for successful results. Bleeding complications related to dual antiplatelet therapy were similar to those in previous studies of stent-assisted coiling for the same population. Larger cohort analysis is needed to define the precise role of flow diverters in the treatment of IC-RBA.

The field of minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) has rapidly evolved over the past 3 decades. This review follows the evolution of techniques and principles that have led to significant advances in the field. While still representing only a subset of spine surgeries, MISS’s goals of reducing soft-tissue trauma and mitigating the morbidity of surgery are being realized, translating into more rapid recovery, lower infection rates, and higher cost savings. Future advances in technology and techniques can be anticipated.

BACKGROUND In order to deliver optimal patient care, spine surgeons must integrate technological changes to arrive at novel measures of functional outcomes. Historically, subjective patient-reported outcome (PRO) surveys have been used to determine the relative benefit of surgical treatments. Using smartphone-based accelerometers, surgeons now have the ability to arrive at objective outcome metrics. OBJECTIVE To use Apple Health (Apple Inc, Cupertino, California) data to approximate physical activity levels before and after spinal fusion as an objective outcome measurement. METHODS Personal activity data were acquired retrospectively from the cellphones of consenting patients. These data were used to measure changes in activity level (daily steps, flights climbed, and distance traveled) before and after patients underwent spine surgery at a single institution by a single surgeon. After data collection, we investigated the demographic information and daily physical activity pre- and postoperatively of participating patients. RESULTS Twenty-three patients were included in the study. On average, patients first exceeded their daily 1-yr average distance walked, flights climbed, and steps taken at 10.3 ± 14, 7.6 ± 21.1, and 8 ± 9.9 wk, respectively. Mean flights climbed, distance traveled, and steps taken decreased significantly from 6 mo prior to surgery to 2 wk postoperatively. Distance traveled and steps taken significantly increased from 6 mo prior to surgery to 7 to 12 mo postoperatively. CONCLUSION We demonstrated a valuable supplement to traditional PROs by using smartphone-based activity data. This methodology yields a rich data set that has the potential to augment our understanding of patient recovery.

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