Accuracy and efficiency of drilling trajectories with augmented reality versus conventional navigation randomized crossover trial.
rct · Level II
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 39523443.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41746-024-01314-2 and PMC identifier 11551163.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Conventional navigation systems (CNS) in surgery require strong spatial cognitive abilities and hand-eye coordination. Augmented Reality Navigation Systems (ARNS) provide 3D guidance and may overcome these challenges, but their accuracy and efficiency compared to CNS have not been systematically evaluated. In this randomized crossover study with 36 participants from different professional backgrounds (surgeons, students, engineers), drilling accuracy, time and perceived workload were evaluated using ARNS and CNS. For the first time, this study provides compelling evidence that ARNS and CNS have comparable accuracy in translational error. Differences in angle and depth error with ARNS were likely due to limited stereoscopic vision, hardware limitations, and design. Despite this, ARNS was preferred by most participants, including surgeons with prior navigation experience, and demonstrated a significantly better overall user experience. Depending on accuracy requirements, ARNS could serve as a viable alternative to CNS for guided drilling, with potential for future optimization.