Columbia Neurosurgery Marks Milestone in Patient-Specific Spine Implant Technology

Columbia Neurosurgery and NewYork-Presbyterian Och Spine Hospital have reached a major milestone in advanced spine care with the completion of the 100th implantation of patient-specific interbody cages, a cutting-edge technology transforming outcomes for patients with complex spinal conditions.

Led by Andrew K. Chan, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery, this milestone reflects Columbia’s position as one of the highest-volume centers in the world utilizing patient-specific spine implant technology. Designed using advanced imaging and surgical planning, these customized cages are tailored to each patient’s unique anatomy, enabling more precise alignment, improved stability, and potentially faster recovery.

A Destination for Advanced Spine Care

Dr. Chan’s experience with patient-specific cages has drawn patients from across the country, including recent cases involving out-of-state physicians seeking access to this specialized technology. In one notable case, a patient who traveled from Florida experienced minimal postoperative pain and a smooth recovery, underscoring the potential patient benefits of customized spinal implants.

As adoption grows, additional Columbia faculty—including Dean Chou, MD, Spine Chief and Vice Chair of Neurological Surgery—are now utilizing patient-specific cages in their surgical practice, further expanding access to this advanced approach within the department.

Leading the World in Personalized Spine Implants

Patient-specific spine cages represent a significant evolution in spine surgery, offering advantages over traditional, off-the-shelf implants by accounting for individual anatomy, spinal alignment goals, and biomechanical needs. Columbia’s unmatched experience places NewYork-Presbyterian Och Spine Hospital at the forefront of this rapidly advancing field—setting a global standard for personalized spine surgery.

This leadership comes as patient-specific orthopedic implants gain broader public attention, including recent national advertising campaigns highlighting customized joint replacements. Columbia’s program demonstrates how this technology is already being applied at scale in spine surgery, delivering real-world benefits for patients.

Sharing Innovation with the Spine Community

Dr. Chan previously shared Columbia’s experience with patient-specific cage technology during a Carlsmed-sponsored session at Brainwaves, highlighting how personalized implant design and AI-enabled surgical planning are shaping the future of spine care.

▶️ Watch the session:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2Rw6vADOZs

As Columbia Neurosurgery continues to lead in patient-specific spine technology, this milestone underscores the department’s commitment to innovation, collaboration, and delivering the most advanced, individualized care available to patients worldwide.