First-of-Its-Kind Spine Surgery Performed At LI Hospital Using 3D Imaging

WEST ISLIP, NY — A new piece of technology is changing how spine surgery is performed on Long Island — and it’s already being used at Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip.

Dr. Daniel Choi, a Long Island-based spine surgeon and founder of Spine Medicine & Surgery of Long Island, recently performed the first procedure at the hospital using a newly installed 3D imaging system designed to improve precision during surgery.

The procedure, completed on Feb. 23, was a minimally invasive spinal fusion targeting the lower back. It also marked the first time this type of surgery was performed at the hospital using the advanced imaging technology.

What makes this different is what surgeons can see in real time.

The system provides live 3D images of the spine during the procedure, allowing doctors to guide their instruments more accurately and confirm everything is positioned correctly before finishing the operation.

Instead of relying only on pre-surgery scans, surgeons can now adjust in the moment.

“Technology continues to redefine what’s possible in spine surgery,” Choi said. “With intraoperative 3D navigation, I’m able to confirm accuracy in real time during minimally invasive lumbar fusion procedures. That precision matters because it directly supports safer surgery and better outcomes for my patients.”

The procedure was performed using a combination of imaging and navigation tools that work together to map the spine and track surgical instruments as they move.

Dr. Choi was assisted by Dr. Justin Ledesma during the operation.

Hospital officials said the addition of this technology expands what doctors can do in the operating room, especially for more complex spine procedures. It is also expected to support minimally invasive techniques, which typically mean smaller incisions, less disruption to surrounding tissue, and faster recovery times for patients.

Spine Medicine & Surgery of Long Island has offices in Garden City, Ronkonkoma, Huntington, and Queens, offering both surgical and non-surgical treatment for spine and chronic pain conditions.