Mixed Reality Assisted Percutaneous Scaphoid Fixation: A Proposed New Surgical Technique

Abstract

The success of percutaneous fixation of non or minimally displaced scaphoid waist fractures is reliant on optimal placement of the screw. This can be challenging for surgeons to achieve, potentially involving a large volume of intraoperative imaging, and surgical time. Mixed reality (MR) is a new technology that allows the projection of holographic imagery within the surgeon’s field of vision intraoperatively. This imagery can include surgical planning data and 3D reconstructions of a patient’s anatomy that can be used in order to aid the surgeon in achieving accuracy. We describe a technique for how this novel technology might be used in the future to fix scaphoid fractures—MR assisted percutaneous scaphoid fixation. This is done using cadaveric modeling. MR assisted percutaneous scaphoid fixation may have the potential to aid surgeons in achieving an optimal guidewire placement with the ability to reduce surgical time and radiation exposure.

Review and Future/Potential Application of Mixed Reality Technology in Orthopaedic Oncology

“…51 Reports on XR technology, either AR or MR, using HMDs in orthopaedic surgery are rare as orthopaedic surgeons are still in the early phase of realizing the technology and exploiting its potential. The currently available preclinical studies, case reports, or small case series mainly investigated the feasibility of pedicle screw insertion in spine surgery, 31,[52][53][54][55] guide wires insertion in fracture fixation 42,[56][57][58] or placement of implant component in hip resurfacing 59 and reverse shoulder arthroplasty. 32,60 Table 2 summarizes the literature on XR-technology using HMDs in orthopaedic surgical applications.…”