Safety and Complications Related to Emerging Technologies

Abstract

In the last few decades, the landscape of spine surgery has undergone a paradigm shift with the exponential implementation of emerging technologies, ranging from robotics to artificial intelligence (AI), wearables, and innovative biomaterials.2][3] However, as spine care providers embrace innovative tools and techniques, there is an inherent need to address the safety concerns and potential complications associated with these advancements.One of the primary areas of innovation in spine surgery lies in navigation systems.Computer-assisted navigation has revolutionized the way surgeons approach complex spinal procedures, providing real-time imaging and guidance. 4While these systems offer enhanced accuracy, the reliance on technology introduces new challenges.Malfunctions, software errors, or inaccurate calibration may lead to misguidance during surgery, posing a significant risk to patient safety.Previous studies have, indeed, reported nonnegligible rates of screw misplacement and dural tears, potentially caused by calibration errors, image drift, dislodged reference arrays, or skiving of surgical tools on the bone surface. 5n this context, the additional incorporation of robotics, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) has been demonstrated to allow for a thorough preoperative planning, provide 3-dimensional intraoperative guidance, and further increase surgical precision and efficiency. 2 However, despite these advantages, concerns regarding the learning curve associated with these systems and the potential for technical malfunctions persist.Surgeons must undergo extensive training to master robotic platforms, with early cases often aggravated by longer operation times, lower accuracy, increased radiation exposure, and potentially higher complication rates. 6While the immersive nature of AR and VR aids in surgical navigation, there is a need to address potential drawbacks.The use of heavy head-mounted displays, attention shifts away from the operative field when using monitor-based systems, and prolonged exposure to virtual environments may lead to physical and visual fatigue, and eventually result in the aborted use of this technology. 7nother unprecedented innovation in the field is represented by the advent of AI.With its multiple applications, including computer vision, natural language processing, computer-assisted diagnosis, and decision support systems, AI has already been demonstrated to potentially revolutionize how practitioners collect, process, interpret, and produce data.Recent groundbreaking AI applications have been shown to rapidly detect different disor-Neurospine

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