Mercy Medical Center First in Mid-Atlantic Region to Offer Orthopedic Patients New Mixed Reality Technology Platform for Shoulder Surgery

Dr. Gregory Gasbarro will be available for a virtual press briefing on Tuesday July 2, 2024 has 11 a.m. ET to answer questions from the media. Media register here to attend and receive video and transcript after the event.

BALTIMORE, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Nationally recognized for orthopedic surgery, Mercy Medical Center is now the first in the Mid-Atlantic region to offer shoulder replacement surgery using a new mixed reality technology platform known as Blueprint Mixed Reality (MR) Guidance, developed by Stryker, one of the world’s largest medical technology companies.

The Doctor of Mercy. Gregory Gasbarroboard-certified, Shoulder Fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon at Mercy’s Shoulder, Elbow, Wrist and Hand Center, is just 6^th surgeon in the United States to perform shoulder replacement surgery using this new technology.

According to Dr. Gasbarro, medical director of the Shoulder Joint Travel Program At Mercy, MRI technology allows surgeons to tailor shoulder joint replacement procedures to each patient’s specific needs and anatomy. “This means a highly precise and personalized shoulder replacement, thanks to superior accuracy in glenoid (socket) pin placement and implant positioning,” said Dr. Gasbarro. “This is a quantum leap in what can be achieved compared to current techniques.”

The Blueprint Mixed Reality System superimposes 3D holographic images onto real-life images, allowing the surgeon to maintain a direct view of the surgical site while simultaneously viewing and manipulating a holographic representation of the patient’s anatomy and the surgeon’s preoperative plan. “While virtual reality immerses the viewer in a completely artificial world, mixed reality superimposes 3D images onto what we see in real life, allowing the two to interact. The 3D surgical technique, known as stereotactic surgery, used in Mixed Reality Guidance takes surgery to the next level,” says Dr. Gasbarro.

An FDA-cleared medical device, the Blueprint Mixed Reality Guidance System is designed to allow surgeons to execute their surgical plan within two millimeters and two degrees of their preoperative plan. “This technology allows the surgeon to plan and execute the surgery based on accurate images of the patient’s shoulder, which significantly reduces the risk of incorrect implant placement,” said Dr. Gasbarro.

“The patient’s scan can be viewed without having to go to a computer. 3D models of the humerus (upper arm bone) and glenoid can be manipulated and superimposed on the surgical field. Additionally, guidance devices are placed in the patient, giving the surgeon instant feedback on the location and angle of the pin being placed. This tells me exactly where it needs to be positioned, for each patient. We no longer need a 3D printed guide,” he added.

Dr. Gasbarro is part of a highly skilled team of shoulder surgeons with Shoulder Joint Travel Program at Mercy, which provides advanced upper extremity care for degenerative and congenital diseases, as well as acute trauma and workplace injuries.

Recognized as a global leader in medical technology, Stryker provides innovative products and services in MedSurg, Neurotechnology, Orthopedics and Spine that help improve patient and healthcare outcomes.

Founded in 1874 by the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy Medical Center is a Catholic university-affiliated teaching institution and hospital with a national reputation for women’s health care, orthopedics and other specialties. Mercy is home to the renowned Weinberg Center for Women’s Health & Medicine and the more than $400 million Mary Catherine Bunting Center. For more information, visit mdmercy.com and MDMercyMedia on Facebook and Twitter, or call 1-800-MD-Mercy.

SOURCE Mercy Medical Center