Augmented reality simulation framework for minimally invasive orthopedic surgery

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has emerged in clinical practice to minimize surgical trauma, providing patients with faster recovery, reduced pain and complications and enhanced aesthetic results compared to traditional surgery. However, this approach increase the risk of iatrogenic damage, i.e. the accidental injury to sensitive anatomical structures (eg. nerves and vascular strcuteres) not directly visible during a percutaneous access. Augmented reality (AR) can effectively mitigate these drawbacks by overlaying graphical information onto the surgical field and providing real-time feedback, offering support in training settings and clinical practice. Implementation challenges have limited the number of case studies in the scientific literature. This study presents a novel simulation paradigm for orthopedic surgery training, filling a gap in surgical skill development resources for trainees, and demonstrating the effectiveness of this approach.