Fifty-five percent were female, and the mean age was 63 years old, with patients ranging in age from 21 to 89 years old. All patients had preoperative QCT scans of their lumbar spine.

A CT scan is taken of the patient on the operating table, which is then projected in the headset, “so you get very detailed information of where you are in somebody’s spine,” he said.

CT scan prior to spine fusion finds almost half of patients had undiagnosed osteoporosis Low bone density diagnosis could affect patient treatment plan before, during and after spine surgery.

"Screening for cervical spine risk factors could reduce CT scans by half." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 15 August 2019. <www.sciencedaily.com / releases / 2019 / 08 / 190815122305.htm>.