HM Málaga Hospital has incorporated an innovative system of intraoperative three-dimensional imaging and surgical navigation, which translates into improved safety and precision in spinal surgery. This is a unique technology in the Andalusian private healthcare sector that optimises every phase of the surgery and reduces complications associated with the placement of implants such as screws, prostheses, and interspinous devices.
This new technology, developed by Brainlab and called Loop-X, allows procedures to be performed with greater precision, improving patient safety and minimising risks. Thanks to the intraoperative scanner and navigator, surgeons can visualise in real time a high-resolution three-dimensional image of the patient and guide the placement of implants with millimetric accuracy.
It is the most advanced intraoperative CT scan with 3D imaging currently available. It incorporates an imaging system plus a navigation system, that is, the software and hardware required to enhance the surgeon’s visibility and increase patient safety. For example, by offering real-time imaging, it allows the localisation of tumours in hard-to-reach areas or ensures the correct placement of prostheses.
Its design allows patients to be positioned quickly, improves image quality, and reduces radiation in non-essential structures. In addition, the surgical navigator automatically records the scan and sends it to the navigation system to guide each step of the intervention with great precision.
“Spinal navigated surgery increases accuracy and avoids problems during and after the intervention,” highlights Dr Virgilio de Lemos, Head of the Spinal Unit at HM Hospitales in Málaga.
In addition, Dr Manuel Díaz Samada, Head of the Traumatology and Orthopaedic Surgery Unit at HM Hospitales in Málaga, points out that “thanks to this innovative technology, complications in the placement of implants are reduced, visualisation is improved by having 3D images, and the procedures are much faster and more precise.”
For her part, Dr Virginia Grando, Southern Territorial Director of HM Hospitales, highlighted: “with this incorporation, HM Hospitales reaffirms its commitment to excellence in healthcare in the province of Málaga, committing to cutting-edge technologies that improve safety, precision, and surgical outcomes for the benefit of patients.”
This new navigator has been installed at HM Málaga thanks to the collaboration of the Spanish company Cardiva, specialised in the distribution of this type of medical devices, who have expressed their commitment to “supporting professionals who want to be pioneers in the introduction of innovative technology, such as this cutting-edge imaging solution for spinal procedures,” says Agustín Canales, Director of Traumatology at Cardiva.
The entire system is designed to optimise the surgical procedure, reducing the complexity of interventions and improving outcomes for patients.
This innovative system is being used at HM Málaga for a wide variety of spinal surgeries, from cervical to sacral fusion, correction of complex deformities, and trauma surgery.
