Augmented Reality in Spinal Neurosurgery: A Bibliometric Analysis of Trends and Clinical Applications.

OBJECTIVE

Augmented reality (AR) is an emerging technology in spine surgery with the potential to enhance intraoperative visualization and precision by overlaying virtual images on anatomical structures. This bibliometric review analyzes trends in research and publication growth related to AR in spinal neurosurgery between 2013 and 2024.

METHODS

A search across PubMed identified 267 articles.

RESULTS

After screening, we analyzed 98 relevant studies, revealing exponential growth in AR research, with publications increasing from 1 in 2013 to 28 in 2024. The focus of research evolved over the years, with instrumentation being the dominant topic in 2020, and a broader emphasis on multi-domain AR applications in 2024. The United States led in publication output, followed by Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland.

CONCLUSIONS

The increasing number of studies reflects AR's growing adoption in both specialized and broad spine surgery applications. Although AR has demonstrated its potential to improve surgical precision and education, further research is needed to assess long-term clinical outcomes and overcome barriers to widespread implementation.