In orthopaedic oncology, surgical planning and intraoperative execution errors may result in positive tumor resection margins that increase the risk of local recurrence and adversely affect patients' survival. Computer navigation and 3D-printed resection guides have been reported to address surgical inaccuracy by replicating surgical plans in complex cases. However, limitations include surgeons' attention shift from the operative field and the expense of navigation facilities in computer navigation surgery. Practical concerns include the lack of real-time visual feedback for preoperative images and the lead time required for manufacturing 3D-printed objects.
When surgeons clinically examine bone tumor patients, they must mentally process and correctly overlay the patients' virtual 2D medical images and 3D bone-tumor models onto their anatomy. Appropriate surgical exposures and osteotomies along the desired planes are then determined. This spatial ability to mentally generate and manipulate abstract models is difficult for tumors of various extents and regions with complex anatomies. Both computer navigation and 3D-printed resection guides facilitate precise osteotomies only after surgical exposure.
Mixed Reality (MR) is an immersive technology that seamlessly merges the physical and digital worlds, allowing users to interact with digital objects in real-time. Through Head-Mounted Displays (HMDs), holographic 3D models generated from 2D medical images are superimposed on the patient's anatomy in their physical environment. It enables surgeons to better spatially understand bone tumors in actual patients before the surgery starts. The emerging MR technology adds a new dimension to digital assistive tools with a more accessible and less costly alternative in orthopaedic oncology. The MR HMD and hands-free control may enable additional on-demand medical information with online assistance from remote users, greatly facilitating clinical point-of-care both inside and outside the operating room and improving service efficiency and patient safety.
The talk covers the background of MR technology, its integration into existing clinical workflows, clinical experiences, and the Journey and challenges in implementing the new digital technology in HA Hospitals.
