Hosting of the First Surgical Data Science Workshop

The participants of the first Surgical Data Science Workshop stand for a group picture in the OR-X, wearing surgical scrubs clothing.

Intro

Improving Data-Driven Surgery for better Patien Outcomes with Leading Experts

How can surgical data be harnessed to improve patient care? From 25.-26. March, this question brought together leading experts from renowned institutions such as Balgrist University Hospital, the Technical University of Munich, the University of Heidelberg, IMT Atlantique, ETH Zurich, the University of Zurich and the ETH AI Center at the OR-X. Over two days, they engaged in an intensive exchange focused on optimizing the selection, acquisition, and curation of surgical data.

Overcoming Challenges in Surgical Data Collection

  • Two researcher explaining an ultrasound demonstration with a KUK robotic arm in the OR-X.
  • Surgeon placing a screw on a specimen in the OR-X while explaining the procedure to a reasercher.
  • Participant of the workshop recording the ultrasound demonstration in the OR-X with his smartphone.
  • Surgeon performs an endoscopic demonstration on a Realist model in the Skills Lab of the OR-X.
Overcoming Challenges in Surgical Data Collection

High-quality intraoperative data is a cornerstone of surgical data science, yet its collection remains a significant challenge. Operating rooms present numerous hurdles, from proprietary system interfaces and workflow constraints to strict regulatory and safety requirements. Overcoming these barriers is essential to unlocking the full potential of artificial intelligence, robotics, and augmented reality in surgery.

To address these challenges, the workshop focused on defining best practices for data selection and curation. Experts discussed strategies for structuring datasets to maximize their impact on the surgical data science community and explored approaches to standardizing data collection for future research.

Live Demonstrations and Practical Applications

A highlight of the event was the opportunity to experience data-driven surgery in action. Live demonstrations at OR-X showcased how high-quality intraoperative data can be systematically captured for research purposes. Participants observed an ex-vivo spine instrumentation procedure as well as an endoscopic spine surgery, providing tangible insights into data acquisition in different surgical settings. These demonstrations sparked valuable discussions on how structured data collection can be seamlessly integrated into surgical workflows.

Intro

Setting the Foundation for Future Surgical Data Initiatives

 

Beyond technical discussions and live case studies, the workshop also served as a platform for strategic planning. One key topic was the establishment of a new Surgical Data Science (SDS) Symposium, set to be a satellite event of the Medical Augmented Reality Summer School (MARSS) 2025. Additionally, participants explored joint research initiatives and the framework conditions required to advance the field collaboratively.

The two-day event at the OR-X underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in surgical data science. By bringing together expertise from surgery, engineering, and data science, the workshop laid the groundwork for future initiatives aimed at enhancing surgical decision-making through high-quality data.