AANS Scientific Meeting
In only a few days, Dr. Lim will by flying out to Los Angeles to present on the new Mazor X system at the AANS Annual Scientific Meeting, April 22-27.
The AANS, also known as the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, puts on an annual meeting where presenters showcase the latest and greatest in neurological care. Dr. Lim will be joining Mazor Robotics to discuss the most recent advances in robotic surgery and perform a hands-on demonstration of the new technology.
Dr. Lim is one of only a handful of neurosurgeons in the nation who is trained to use the Mazor X platform for spine surgery. The technology, which was introduced last November, has only been delivered to a few hospitals, with Reston Hospital being one of the few. Despite the fact that it is brand new, the Mazor X platform is destined to change the way that minimally invasive spine surgery is delivered forever.
“Having your spine surgery using this technology is like the difference between a World War II bomb, a dumb bomb, versus a smart bomb; much less collateral damage.”
-Dr. Jae Lim, MD
How the Mazor X Works
According to Mazor Robotics, there are three specific areas of Mazor X that allow it stand apart in spinal surgery:
Pre-Operative Analytics: A suite of software-based sophisticated tools allows surgeons to pre-operatively assess spinal alignment, implement full surgical planning and facilitating a total patient treatment strategy before entering the operating room. A key component of Pre-Op Analytics, the X-Align module, is a combination of biomechanical logic and virtual surgical tools with computerized alignment calculations that allows surgeons to streamline the process of creating a holistic alignment plan for each individual patient.
Intra-Operative Guidance: During surgery, Mazor X utilizing precision mechanics and a bed-attached, bone-mounted surgical arm to guide surgical tools and synergistic implants according to the Pre-Op Analytics. This, coupled with innovative tracking and imaging, allows for a predictable and accurate execution of the surgical plan.
Real-Time 3D Verification: The Mazor X System’s real-time verification allows surgeons to close the surgical loop and confirm – execution and reconciliation of the surgical plan using proprietary 2D fluoroscopy-based technology, visual tracking, or intraoperative imaging systems. This allows surgeons to keep their incision sites smaller while still allowing them to see everything they need to in order to successfully complete the operation. Smaller incisions mean less blood loss, less tissue and muscle damage and shorter recovery periods.
BENEFITS OF ROBOTIC SPINE SURGERY
Using Robotic Guidance reduces the need for intraop x-rays and also reduces radiation exposure for patients and OR staff. It eliminates the error caused by the human hand and reduces procedure time once the learning curve is overcome. And minimally invasive techniques benefit the patient greatly: there are smaller incisions, minimized scarring, shorter hospital stays, less postoperative pain and faster recovery times.
