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Research Library · Independent literature review

Spine: How often does VR change the surgical plan?

5 Spine studies in the library address this question.

Spine: How often the plan changesBar chart. Spine: How often the plan changes. Comparative or prospective studies 1, Retrospective studies 2, Reviews 1, Case reports & technical 1.RESEARCH LIBRARY · INDEPENDENT LITERATURE REVIEWSpine: How often the plan changes5 studies in the library, by study designComparative or prospecti…1Retrospective studies2Reviews1Case reports & technical1Positive findingMixedDescriptiveNo significant differenceRealize Medical Research Library · 631 studies · updated 2026-10-03

What the studies report

  • Positive finding
    “Furthermore, surgeons selected additional anatomical structures to be traversed to reach the tumor when using VR, leading to a more precise selection of surgical approaches.”

    Nantenaina 2025 · Comparative study · n: 6 patients

  • Positive finding
    “Preoperative VR planning significantly influenced surgical recommendations…”

    McCloskey 2023 · Systematic review

  • Positive finding
    “The 3D visualization of pathological conditions resulted in correct preoperative surgical planning and less invasive surgery in all five cases.”

    Aoyama 2022 · Case series · n: 5 patients

  • Mixed
    “Image presentation using VR significantly influenced the recommended surgical therapies (decompression only/decompression and fusion; p = 0.02), had no significant influence on the recommended fusion method (rigid/dynamic/stand-alone; p = 0.77)”

    Zawy Alsofy 2021 · Retrospective cohort · n: 171 patients

How strong is the evidence?

Of 5 studies with a finding on this question: 3 report a positive finding, 2 mixed. These reflect what each study's authors report.

Study designs: 1 comparative or prospective study, 2 retrospective studies, 1 review and 1 case report, case series or technical report.

All 5 studies

Evaluating virtual reality as a tool for improving surgical planning in spinal tumors #

Nantenaina TNH et al. · International journal of computer assisted radiology and surgery · 2025

Spine · Comparative study · n: 6 patients

Positive finding
“Furthermore, surgeons selected additional anatomical structures to be traversed to reach the tumor when using VR, leading to a more precise selection of surgical approaches.”

DOIPubMed

Retrospective Comparison of Minimally Invasive and Open Monosegmental Lumbar Fusion, and Impact of Virtual Reality on Surgical Planning and Strategy #

Zawy Alsofy S et al. · Journal of neurological surgery. Part A, Central European neurosurgery · 2021

Spine · Retrospective cohort · n: 171 patients

Mixed
“Image presentation using VR significantly influenced the recommended surgical therapies (decompression only/decompression and fusion; p = 0.02), had no significant influence on the recommended fusion method (rigid/dynamic/stand-alone; p = 0.77)”

p = 0.02

DOIPubMed

Virtual Reality-Based Evaluation of Surgical Planning and Outcome of Monosegmental, Unilateral Cervical Foraminal Stenosis #

Zawy Alsofy S et al. · World neurosurgery · 2019

Spine · Retrospective cohort · n: 73 patients

Mixed
“Reconstruction of pre- and postoperative 2D-CT images of the cervical spine into 3D images, and the spatial and anatomical reconstructions in VR models, can be helpful in planning surgical approaches and treatment strategies for patients with cervical foraminal stenoses”

DOIPubMed

Virtual and Augmented Reality in Spine Surgery: A Systematic Review #

McCloskey K et al. · World neurosurgery · 2023

Spine · Systematic review

Positive finding
“Preoperative VR planning significantly influenced surgical recommendations…”

DOIPubMed

A Novel Technique of Mixed Reality Systems in the Treatment of Spinal Cord Tumors #

Aoyama R et al. · Cureus · 2022

Spine · Case series · n: 5 patients

Positive finding
“The 3D visualization of pathological conditions resulted in correct preoperative surgical planning and less invasive surgery in all five cases.”

DOIPubMedFree full text

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Summarises published research on VR/AR surgical planning across all platforms. Not product labelling. For Elucis indications see /elucis.

Intended for healthcare professionals.

Summaries and quotes describe each study's methods and the findings its authors report. They are not claims by Realize Medical and may contain errors: please read the original paper. Inclusion is not an endorsement of any product or use.