An attempt to evaluate the use of mixed reality in surgically treated pediatric oncology patients

Abstract

Mixed reality (MR) technology is increasingly used in surgical procedures, particularly in pediatric oncological surgery. The CarnaLife Holo system (MedApp S.A., Poland) converts medical imaging data into interactive 3D holograms for preoperative planning and intraoperative use. This study presents a preliminary evaluation of MR’s impact on surgical procedure (SP) duration and hospitalization (H) time. A retrospective analysis of patients treated between 2023 and 2024 compared outcomes of surgeries performed with (n = 9) and without MR. Diagnoses included pulmonary metastases, sacrococcygeal tumor, clavicle tumor, aneurysmal bone cyst, soft tissue tumors, femoral and chest wall tumors. SP duration in the MR group was generally comparable to conventional methods, with hospitalization times remaining within typical ranges. Although a slight increase in procedure time was observed in a few cases, MR did not significantly prolong SP or H. MR appears to be a promising tool in pediatric oncological surgery. Further research on larger cohorts is warranted.