By Terry Schrimscher, For the Tribune
TRUSSVILLE – Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Marc Rothermich etched his name in medical history January 20 when he became the first surgeon to use Microsoft HoloLens goggles to visualize a hologram MRI during sports medicine surgery.
Dr. Marcus Rothermich of Andrews Sports Medicine in Trussville wearing the Microsoft HoloLens goggles.
“The technology that’s built in is, I can have a patient’s MRI pulled up as a hologram that I can manipulate and zoom in on and visualize some of the imaging while we’re in surgery,” he said. The goggles also allow him to access patient data in real time without having to step away from the operating table.
“We used to have to walk across the room and look at a screen if we wanted to see something in terms of the patient’s MRIs or X-rays,” he added. “Now, we can just look over to the side in our peripheral and control using our fingers in the air.
Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center is “a big teaching center,” Rothermich said, and the goggles allow him to remotely train other surgeons during the surgery using a microphone and camera built into the goggles.
“It’s like wearing a GoPro during surgery,” he said. “The audio is perfect. I can actually have a conversation with somebody across the world. It’s equivalent to a Zoom call. I can also record these procedures to be viewed on demand.”
The goggles allow other surgeons to see what he is seeing in real time, which helps in teaching techniques and also allows other surgeons to assist in real time when needed.
“I can illustrate what I am doing,” he added. “When I am using the goggles, my index fingers kind of turn into lasers. I can point and circle a structure or draw something on the screen and on that Zoom call or another surgeon’s iPad, and they can see what I am drawing or pointing to.”
Rothermich said he has performed two surgeries, a knee surgery and a shoulder surgery, using the goggles.
“We’re in the process now of formal approval for full time use,” he said. “At least for the company I consult for, I’ll be the only one using it for sports medicine initially.”
HoloLens technology has been adapted for a variety of applications ranging from virtual reality gaming to military combat and space exploration. The goggles were used to assist in a heart surgery in 2018, but Rothermich is the first to use them with Zimmer Biomet technology in sports medicine.
In addition to the technology used with the HoloLens goggles, Zimmer Biomet manufactures artificial knee, shoulder, hip and other replacement joints for orthopedic procedures. The company also develops robotic surgical technology.
Using the HoloLens goggles for surgery is just one of the fascinating advances Rothermich is helping develop with Zimmer Biomet.
“There’s new technology I am helping to develop that’s robotic assisted physical therapy,” said Rothermich. The robot would give more precise measurements in terms of recovery, and doctors can access data from patients around the world to compare recovery time and improve techniques for patients.
“Andrews is a big research center, so we’re excited about being able to pioneer this new technology and being able to produce relevant research that will be meaningful down the road,” Rothermich said.
Rothermich practices at Andrews Sports Medicine in the Trussville location and serves as team doctor for several area high school sports programs including Hewitt-Trussville and Springville. He also serves as team physician for the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League. He attended the University of Notre Dame and earned his medical degree from the University of Virginia.
