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2 mins read
In a breakthrough that marks the beginning of a new era in spine surgery, UC San Diego Health became the first health system in the world to perform an anterior cervical surgery using a fully personalized implant, developed through artificial intelligence, advanced imaging, and 3D printing.
The procedure was led by neurosurgeon Joseph Osorio, associate professor of neurological surgery at UC San Diego School of Medicine. The intervention involved removing a damaged disc through a small incision in the front of the neck and replacing it with a medical-grade titanium implant, specifically designed to fit the patient’s anatomy.
Unlike traditional implants, manufactured under a standard design, this new device precisely replicates the individual structure of the spine. This personalization allows for more accurate alignment, faster recovery, and a lower risk of complications, marking a fundamental shift in how complex spine surgeries are approached by prioritizing the adaptation of the implant to the patient’s body rather than the other way around.
The process began with a detailed scan of the neck, followed by AI-assisted planning that defined the exact design of the implant. The piece was then manufactured through 3D printing and used during surgery. This level of precision and customization promises to significantly improve outcomes for patients with spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, or vertebral deformities, by preserving healthy tissue, reducing postoperative pain, and decreasing the need for additional surgeries.
From the leadership of UC San Diego’s Department of Neurosurgery, this advancement is considered a concrete demonstration of how personalized medicine can be applied to spine surgery, combining technological innovation and surgical accuracy to restore function and optimize patient recovery.
UC San Diego Health, recognized for its leadership in neurosurgical innovation and accredited by The Joint Commission, was ranked among the best neurology and neurosurgery programs in the United States according to the U.S. News & World Report 2025–26.
This development is projected as the beginning of a broader change, in which medical implants, whether for the spine, hip, or knee, will no longer be mass-produced but instead individually designed for each person.
A scenario in which surgery abandons generic approaches and advances toward truly personalized medicine.