New technology at Glasgow hospital lets surgeon 'see inside' patient during spinal procedure

A hospital in Glasgow has become the first in the UK to use Mixed Reality technology to allow surgeons to ‘see inside’ a patient during spinal procedures.

The Institute for Neurological Sciences, based at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, carried out the first procedure using the new technology on Carol Toal.

The 75-year-old required surgery to correct a misalignment of her spine, treat a spinal cyst and decompress spinal nerves.

The issue had left Mrs Toal, from Irvine, with chronic pain in her back and leg and meant the formerly active woman struggled to walk more than 25 yards without having to stop.

The procedure earlier this month involved a highly advanced system called Spine Mixed Reality Navigation, as part of a trial in conjunction with manufacturer Brainlab.

The system takes current technology which fuses intraoperative X-rays with external images of a patient and, instead of a surgeon needing to look at a screen the images are relayed through MR goggles, giving an extremely accurate view of the patient’s body and their underlying spinal anatomy.

Mohamed Abdelsadg, consultant neurosurgeon and complex spine surgeon, carried out the procedure.

He said: “The result is we are effectively able to see inside a patient’s body while we are performing the operation.

“This means the surgery is much more accurate, is much less invasive, and minimises surgical damage to other tissue.”

Mrs Toal is happy with how the surgery went, and feels she is recovering well.

She said: “My leg is much better and though I still have some pain in my back, I’m feeling really hopeful.

“I’d just like to say thank you to everyone who’s been involved in my care. I can’t praise them highly enough – in fact the surgeon and his team really have been lifesavers for me.”

While Mrs Toal was the first patient to undergo surgery using the spine mixed reality system, the team hope her positive progress means it won’t be the last.

“Our early experience was certainly positive,” said Mr Abdelsadg, “and we all feel this system has real potential to build on the advanced neurosurgical work we do at the Institute.”

Susan Groom, director of regional services at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “The Institute and services across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, are always looking to embrace innovations that are shown to improve outcomes for our patients.

“I would like to thank the team at the Institute for their work during the trial, and express my appreciation to Brainlab for coming to us with this new equipment.

“Being the first centre in the UK, and only the third in the world, to use this mixed reality technology is a further demonstration of the high regard internationally in which the Institute is held.”