‘I can walk now’: Israeli hospital uses groundbreaking technology for spine surgery

A hospital in Jerusalem has become the first in the world to perform a complex spine surgery utilising augmented reality (AR) combined with robotic technology. 

Dr. Cezar J. Mizrahi at Shaare Zedek Medical Centre told Jewish News that he decided to apply AR, which is an interactive experience that combines the real world and computer-generated content, with robotic technology when a 25-year-old patient was admitted with a very complex spine injury.

The patient, which was at risk of paralysis and other severe neurological damage, was the “perfect case”, Dr. Mizrahi said.

“This kind of of injury would be extremely complicated to treat without the technology we used. I had absolutely no view so I fully trusted AR and robotics,” Dr. Mizrahi said.

The combination of AR and robotics allowed Dr. Mizrahi to perform a precise and minimal invasive procedure.

“It made my life very easy. I would even say a child could do a surgery with all this technology. The AR and robotics helped with positioning, trajectory and planning,” he said.

Dr. Mizrahi, who is a spine neurosurgeon from the Spine Surgery Unit and the Department of Neurosurgery, said the technology didn’t speed up the surgery, but rather made it more “effective.”

The successful operation gives Dr. Mizrahi hope that it will allow for the technology to become an integral part of spine surgeries going forward, but that these things take time to get fully implemented.

“It’s a very slow process. If I had to speculate I would say that in about 10 years it will be standard to use AR and robotics for very complex cases,” he said.

And although this technology is currently only used to perform spine surgeries, Dr. Mizrahi said he can see it being used for injuries on the entire body in the future.

When asked if he thinks robots will soon be replacing surgeons entirely, Dr. Mizrahi said: “We are very far from that. I don’t think I will see that in my career. And I’m only 37,” Dr. Mizrahi said.

The patient reported feeling good and was able to walk without any assistance immediately after the surgery. He is expected to be released from the hospital in the coming days.

“The procedure went successfully, and we are so thankful for Dr. Mizrahi’s treatment. Before the surgery we were very worried and didn’t know what would be, but it was performed quickly and successfully, and I’ve recovered faster than expected. I can walk now. Dr. Mizrahi regularly comes to check on me and from the bottom of my heart I’m just so grateful,” he said.