NEWPORT NEWS — One local surgeon is bringing the advances in technology to the operating room.
On April 14, Dr. Anthony Carter, an orthopedic surgeon with Hampton Roads Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, performed a live streaming hip surgery at the Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital in Newport News.
Carter is one of the pioneer surgeons in the anterior hip approach and frequently travels to train other surgeons but with the live stream, he was able to teach his technique to the Anterior Hip Foundation 2018 Innovation Symposium in Las Vegas.
Carter instructs nationally and internationally on total hip replacements using the muscle-sparing anterior approach and he is currently pioneering the technique for hip resurfacing using the same muscle-sparing anterior approach, according to a news release from Bon Secours.
“Ever since we had this video capability, we thought this would be the way to go to educate people. This is the way things are going, more remote,” Carter said.
Carter said there was video and audio feed linking back to Las Vegas and while he was performing the surgery, he was able to take questions and walk other surgeons through the procedure.
“This unique, live surgery event provided direct access and interaction with Dr. Carter while he performed an anterior approach hip replacement,” said Joel Matta, president of the Anterior Hip Foundation. “This was an exceptionally valuable learning experience for our symposium attendees – particularly since Dr. Carter is one of the most experienced and respected anterior approach hip replacement physicians in the world.”
In total, the surgery took an hour and was broadcast to 100 surgeons.
“There was a moderator on the other end, who would field questions and there was a back and forth and I was able to answer questions,” Carter said. “There’s videos online where you can watch a surgery but you can’t stop and ask questions during a video.”
Carter said live streaming the surgery is cheaper and more effective than flying doctors out to witness a surgery in person.
The longtime surgeon said he can reach a wider audience by live streaming and plans on doing more training seminars with the equipment.
“It really expands who, how and when we can teach,” Carter said. “If you want to learn and train now you don’t have to take time out of your practice.”
