Uc San Diego Health Performs World’s First Personalized Spine Surgery

UC San Diego Health is nan first wellness strategy successful nan world to execute an anterior cervical spine room utilizing a afloat personalized implant designed for a patient's unsocial anatomy. 

The first surgery, performed successful July 2025, was an anterior cervical procedure, which involves making an incision successful nan beforehand (anterior) of nan neck, removing a damaged disc, and fusing nan adjacent vertebrae together. 

The process includes a modular artificial disc, placed successful nan abstraction wherever a damaged disc has been removed. Traditional implants are one-size-fits-all, which tin impact alignment, healing, and movement. This caller technological attack and implant combines precocious imaging, artificial intelligence (AI), and 3D printing to create a customized implant.

Every spine is unique, conscionable for illustration a fingerprint. With this technology, we tin create an implant specifically for each patient, alternatively of asking their assemblage to accommodate to a modular device. It's a basal displacement successful really we attack analyzable spine surgery."

Joseph Osorio, MD, PhD, subordinate professor of neurological room astatine University of California San Diego School of Medicine and neurosurgeon astatine UC San Diego Health

The neurosurgical squad that performed nan process astatine UC San Diego Health, led by Osorio, captured elaborate scans of nan patient's cervix to measurement nan spine precisely. AI-assisted readying past wished nan implant design, which was 3D printed successful medical-grade titanium for usage successful nan procedure.

This level of customization could beryllium life-changing for patients pinch conditions specified arsenic spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, aliases spinal deformities because it allows for much precise spinal alignment, reduced surgical complications, and faster betterment times. By preserving patient anatomy and improving structural support, patients whitethorn regain mobility sooner, acquisition little pain, and person a little likelihood of needing further corrective surgeries, importantly improving value of life and semipermanent function.

"This is nan first measurement successful a larger transformation," said Osorio. "We envision a early wherever each implant, whether for nan spine, hip, aliases knee, is made for 1 person, not mass-produced for everyone."

Anterior cervical fusion has been performed since nan 1950s and remains 1 of nan astir communal spine procedures, making this accomplishment a historical first.

"This milestone brings nan committedness of personalized medicine to spine surgery," said Alexander Khalessi, MD, MBA, chair of nan Department of Neurosurgery astatine UC San Diego School of Medicine and neurosurgeon astatine UC San Diego Health. "This first lawsuit exemplifies really instrumentality invention and meticulous surgical method tin reconstruct usability for our patients. We are expanding what's imaginable successful nan curen of analyzable spinal conditions astatine UC San Diego Health."

UC San Diego Health has been recognized arsenic a nationalist leader successful neurosurgical modernization. The spine programme has earned legalization from The Joint Commission for excellence successful spine surgery, reflecting nan wellness system's committedness to diligent safety, value outcomes, and evidence-based care.

In nan 2025–26 U.S. News & World Report "Best Hospitals" rankings, UC San Diego Health's neurology and neurosurgery programme was named among nan apical successful nan nation, highlighting dedication to research, technology, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The spine programme brings together neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, rehabilitation specialists, and symptom guidance experts to supply broad attraction for each patient, from non-surgical treatments to nan astir analyzable procedures.