The safety benefits of robotic spine surgery come primarily from the minimally invasive approach that it requires. Surgeons don’t need to open up as much of the back to access the spine, thus there is less chance for blood loss, infections and other operative complications. Additionally, surgeons are required to meticulously plan their surgeries before a patient ever enters the operating room and the robotic-guidance system allows them to accurately place every screw and device precisely where it needs to be, the first time; helping avoid repeat surgeries.
How robotic spine surgery works
Robotic spine surgery can be broken down into four individual steps:
Step 1: Plan
The surgeon creates a unique, 3D preoperative blueprint of the procedure using a CT scan that is tailored to the patient’s specific needs. This allows the surgeon to see what’s going on without necessitating a wide incision down the spine.
Step 2: Mount
Next, the surgeon mounts the robotic platform onto the patient’s spine. This ensures that precision and accuracy are maintained, even if the patient moves during the operation.
Step 3: 3D Sync
After mounting the platform to the spine, a 3D synchronization of the spine is completed and then matches up the intraoperative anatomy with the preoperative blueprint. This allows the Robotic Guidance system to operate with accuracy unattainable by a human hand.
Step 4: Surgery
Finally, the surgeon is ready to operate on the affected part of the patient’s spine. Using the Robotic Guidance system, they are able perform the procedure with remarkable speed and accuracy, which significantly reduces complications during and after surgery.
For more detailed information regarding Robotic-Assisted Spine Surgery, explore the Robotic Spine Surgery: How It Works page.
Am I A Candidate for Robotic Spine Surgery?
If you are suffering from a painful spinal condition that has not been corrected through conservative treatments like physical therapy or medication or your spine specialist has recommended that you undergo spine surgery to address your back pain, you might be a candidate for robotic spine surgery.
Our neurosurgeons can use robotic-guidance technology to treat a wide variety of spinal issues including degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, scoliosis and spondylolisthesis.
If you’re interested in learning more about robotic spine surgery, please get in touch with our office.
References
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3. Kantelhardt, S. R., Martinez, R., Baerwinkel, S., Burger, R., Giese, A., & Rohde, V. (2011). Perioperative course and accuracy of screw positioning in conventional, open robotic-guided and percutaneous robotic-guided, pedicle screw placement. European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 20(6), 860–868. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586...
4. D'Souza, M., Gendreau, J., Feng, A., Kim, L. H., Ho, A. L., & Veeravagu, A. (2019). Robotic-Assisted Spine Surgery: History, Efficacy, Cost, And Future Trends. Robotic surgery (Auckland), 6, 9–23. https://doi.org/10.2147/RSRR.S...