Robotic-Assisted Spine Surgery
Robotic-assisted spine surgery is an approach in which the surgeon performs surgery through the assistance of a robot and image guidance. The robot helps the surgeon to be precise, minimizing incisions, and making it ideal for more complex surgeries, minimally invasive, and revision procedures.
Surgery Options
A robot can be used to assist the following spine surgeries:
- Any spine surgery in which an instrument, such as a screw or implant, needs to be applied to the spine
- Any spine surgery in which bone needs to be removed from the spine
- Spinal fusion surgery
- Any complex revision spine surgery, especially if the patient’s anatomy has become distorted after the previous surgery or from deformity
- Any deformity surgery where the final shape and placement of the screws must be highly optimized to achieve the desired correction
Frequently Asked Questions
Robotic-assisted spine surgery is only recently becoming more mainstream. A relatively small number of facilities across the country have so far employed this revolutionary approach. Using robotic assistance to place spinal screws with extreme accuracy, with the robot even adjusting for the smallest micromovements such as the patient’s breathing, allows safer placement of spinal implants and recovery.
With robotic-assisted spine surgery, the robot does not actually perform the surgery. The surgeon still performs the procedure, but with the guidance and assistance of the robot nearby. This ensures greater accuracy and reduced risks.
We use the analogy of flying a plane. Can pilots fly a plane without modern navigation and instruments? Of course they can. But the use modern technology reduces risk, improves accuracy and efficiency.
Robot-guided spine surgery can be used to treat individuals with a wide range of conditions, some of which include degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, spondylolisthesis (slipped disc), and complex scoliosis. The indications and applications of robotic surgery are constantly expanding.
Robotic-assisted spine surgery increases the efficiency and accuracy of surgery; however, all surgery has some risks and is unique to each patient and situation. The risks and benefits for your surgery will be discussed with you, in detail, with Dr Pehler prior to your procedure.