Comparative Study of Depth-Based vs. Marker-Based Registration for AR-Assisted Surgical Navigation

We conducted a comparative study of depth-based vs. marker-based registration in 20 phantom and 5 cadaver trials. Metrics included TRE, setup time, and usability scores. Depth-based registration achieved mean TRE of 1.3 mm, close to marker-based 1.1 mm, but reduced setup time from 21 min to 8 min. Surgeon surveys rated depth-based usability 30% higher, citing faster workflow integration. Results confirm depth-based AR as a clinically viable alternative.