Based on UC San Diego Well being, a workforce of surgeons has turn into the primary on this planet to carry out an anterior cervical backbone surgical procedure utilizing a totally customized implant designed for a affected person’s distinctive anatomy. The surgical procedure, carried out in July 2025, was an anterior cervical process, which includes making an incision within the entrance (anterior) of the neck, eradicating a broken disc, and fusing the adjoining vertebrae.
The process consists of a regular synthetic disc, positioned within the area the place a broken disc has been eliminated. Conventional implants are one-size-fits-all, which may have an effect on alignment, therapeutic, and motion. This new technological method and implant mix superior imaging, synthetic intelligence (AI), and 3D printing to create a personalized implant.
“Each backbone is exclusive, similar to a fingerprint,” stated Joseph Osorio, affiliate professor of neurological surgical procedure on the College of California San Diego College of Medication, and neurosurgeon at UC San Diego Well being. “With this expertise, we will create an implant particularly for every affected person, as an alternative of asking their physique to adapt to a regular gadget. It’s a elementary shift in how we method advanced backbone surgical procedure.”
The neurosurgical workforce that carried out the process at UC San Diego Well being, led by Osorio, captured detailed scans of the affected person’s neck to measure the backbone exactly. AI-assisted planning then decided the implant design, which was 3D printed in medical-grade titanium to be used within the process.
This degree of customization could possibly be life-changing for sufferers with situations comparable to spinal stenosis, degenerative disc illness, or spinal deformities as a result of it permits for extra exact spinal alignment, lowered surgical issues, and sooner restoration instances. By preserving wholesome anatomy and enhancing structural help, sufferers could regain mobility sooner, expertise much less ache, and have a decrease chance of needing extra corrective surgical procedures, considerably enhancing high quality of life and long-term perform.
“This is step one in a bigger transformation,” stated Osorio. “We envision a future the place each implant, whether or not for the backbone, hip, or knee, is made for one individual, not mass-produced for everybody.”
Anterior cervical fusion has been carried out for the reason that Fifties and stays one of the vital widespread backbone procedures, making this achievement a historic first.
“This milestone brings the promise of customized drugs to backbone surgical procedure,” stated Alexander Khalessi, chair of the Division of Neurosurgery at UC San Diego College of Medication, and neurosurgeon at UC San Diego Well being. “This primary case exemplifies how gadget innovation and meticulous surgical approach can restore perform for our sufferers. We’re increasing what’s attainable within the therapy of advanced spinal situations at UC San Diego Well being.”
UC San Diego Well being has been acknowledged as a nationwide chief in neurosurgical modernization. The backbone program has earned accreditation from The Joint Fee for excellence in backbone surgical procedure, reflecting the well being system’s dedication to affected person security, high quality outcomes, and evidence-based care.
