Aspirus Spine and Neurosciences on April 2 completed a procedure at Aspirus Wausau Hospital using new technology never used before in Wisconsin. Aspirus neurosurgeon Andrew Beaumont, MD, PhD, used the equipment to complete a lumbar spinal fusion.

The technology from Brainlab allows clinicians to create 3D images of a person using portable CT scanners. The new technology helps surgeons operate on a patient with more accuracy.

“I think this is a revolution,” Dr. Beaumont said. “It is so nice to have this quality. It’s like going from a black and white TV to an HD TV. It gives me so much more confidence.”

Patients at Aspirus Wausau Hospital are already seeing positive results from the new technology.

“It’s pretty cool and exciting,” said Paula Lehmkuhl, the first patient on whom Dr. Beaumont utilized the new CT scanner. “It feels like I didn’t even have back surgery. I’m really looking forward to getting back to gardening and playing with my grandchildren.”

This technology doesn’t stop with spinal surgeries. Dr. Beaumont thinks Aspirus will be able to use the new Brainlab technology for many stages and phases of surgical procedures.

“Going forward we might be able to do this for other clinical work,” he said. “This technology can be implemented in cranial, orthopedic, trauma and many more procedures. The natural evolution is that this will expand to help provide even better patient care.”