HCA Florida North Florida Hospital reaches the 500th AR spinal surgery system
Gainesville, FL — HCA Florida North Florida Hospital announced today that the 500th case using the hospital’s cutting-edge augmented reality spinal surgery system was performed by Dr. John Stevenson in July 2023. HCA Florida North Florida Hospital was the first hospital in North Central Florida to offer this new revolutionary augmented reality (AR) guidance system for spinal surgery, giving physicians “x-ray vision” during surgery and allowing for increased precision and accuracy during sensitive types of spinal surgeries. This 500-case milestone makes HCA Florida North Florida Hospital the highest volume center in the world for use of this system.
“This technology aligns with HCA Florida North Florida Hospital’s mission to provide best-in-class care to our patients,” said Eric Lawson, chief executive officer of HCA Florida North Florida Hospital. “It also provides an increased sense of comfort to those undergoing spinal procedures, knowing their physicians have been given the most innovative tools available in the healthcare industry and have extensive experience in using the system. It is our honor to make this incredible technology available to patients in our community.”
The AR guidance spine system is the first augmented reality navigation technology to be used in surgery. It consists of a transparent near-eye-display headset and all elements of a traditional navigation system. It accurately determines the position of surgical tools, in real-time, and superimposes them on the patient's CT data. The navigation data is then projected onto the surgeon’s retina using the headset, allowing him or her to simultaneously look at the patient and see the navigation data without averting their eyes to a remote screen during the procedure.
This “see-through” surgery allows surgeons to know exactly where to place implants in a patient’s unique spine anatomy, bringing a new standard of personalization and care to the operating room.
Dr. John Stevenson began using this system at HCA Florida North Florida Hospital in 2021 and said this technology has been a “game-changer” in enhancing the quality-of-care HCA Florida North Florida Hospital provides their spine patients.
“This is a system that has provided a unique ability to help navigate the spine safely and with excellent precision,” said Dr. Stevenson. “This system also provides a platform for viewing 3D anatomy, which ensures for accurate placement of pedicle screws in the spine, greatly benefiting our patients. This 500-case milestone is an exciting one to reach and we are proud to continue to grow and innovate so we can provide next-level care for our community.”
This surgical technology is a testament to HCA Florida North Florida Hospital’s commitment to being a spine center of excellence. In June 2023, HCA Florida North Florida Hospital was named one of the 17 hospitals in the state of Florida that received a Spine Surgery Excellence award from Healthgrades due to the hospital’s performance based on patient outcomes. To learn more about our spine surgery offerings, or to schedule an appointment with a provider, visit HCAFloridaHealthcare.com or call (844)706-8773.