Long Beach Medical Center Introduces AI-Guided Spine Surgery Technology

August 8, 2026

LCCN Staff Report

Artificial intelligence is making its way into the operating room, giving spine surgeons a new level of precision when performing complex procedures.

MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center recently became the first hospital in California to implement the Stryker Q Guidance 5 System with CoPilot in combination with the Airo TruCT Mobile CT, according to the hospital.

The technology creates a three-dimensional view of a patient’s spine during surgery, allowing surgeons to plan a procedure around the individual patient’s anatomy before making an incision and receive updated guidance throughout the operation.

“We were the first hospital in California to use Q Guidance 5 with CoPilot,” said Dr. Brandon Ortega, a spine surgeon at MemorialCare Orthopedic & Spine Institute. “This technology allows us to plan a customized approach based on each patient’s unique anatomy and helps us stay precisely on course throughout the procedure.”

The system essentially provides surgeons with a sophisticated navigation tool for the spine.

Before surgery begins, physicians can map a path for surgical instruments and implants while identifying areas and structures that need to be avoided. During the operation, the system continues providing guidance based on the patient’s anatomy.

If the anatomy shifts during surgery, the navigation information can be updated, allowing the surgeon to make adjustments rather than relying solely on images obtained before the procedure.

The Airo TruCT Mobile CT adds another layer of information by providing detailed CT imaging inside the operating room.

Surgeons can use those images to check the position of implants and evaluate spinal alignment during the procedure, rather than waiting until after surgery to obtain additional imaging.

“The technology gives us better visibility and helps us anticipate challenges and adjust as needed,” said Dr. Phillip Yuan, a spine surgeon at MemorialCare Orthopedic & Spine Institute.

Yuan said improved surgical efficiency can also reduce the amount of time a patient spends under anesthesia and potentially lower the risk of infection and other complications.

The technology can be used during traditional open spine procedures as well as minimally invasive surgery, depending on the patient’s condition and treatment plan.

The new system is part of a broader movement toward computer-assisted and robotic technology in orthopedic surgery, where sophisticated imaging, navigation software and artificial intelligence are increasingly being used to help physicians plan and perform procedures with greater accuracy.

MemorialCare has also incorporated robotic-assisted technology for spine surgery and joint replacement procedures.

Hospital officials say the goal is not to replace the surgeon, but to give physicians more detailed information and better navigation tools while they operate.

In spine surgery, where even small differences in the placement of an instrument or implant can be significant, that additional precision can be particularly valuable.