ROBOTIC SPINE SURGERY: The leading edge technology for the Spine
Dr Prem Pillay, Senior Neurosurgeon and Robotic Spine Expert
Robotic Spine Surgical Systems transforms spine surgery from freehand procedures to highly-accurate, state-of-the-art robotic procedures, with less radiation, greater accuracy and precision and less risk. Dr Prem explains that it is used for procedures including minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for slipped disc or herniated discs, Spine stenosis, Spine Spondylosis, Spine Tumors, Spine Infection, scoliosis and other complex spinal deformities. It is a minimally invasive robotic guided spine surgery system that is used.
Why Robotics?
Robotic minimally-invasive surgeries are moving from the laboratory to the surgical suite after a long period of testing and validation. In selected patients they can help the Spine Specialist with more accurate implant placement and sagittal balance restoration states Dr Prem Pillay. World wide, robotic assisted spine surgery has been used to successfully performed a wide range of procedures ranging from complex reconstructions on childhood deformities to minimally invasive surgeries for low back disorders.
Clinical Applications
This system can be used for a variety of clinical procedures including :
- Open, MIS [Minimally invasive], and percutaneous posterior thoracolumbar approaches
- Scoliosis and other complex spinal deformities
- Pedicle screws – short and long fusions
- Transfacet screws and translaminar-facet screws
- Osteotomies
- Biopsies
- Sagittal Balance Restoration and correction
Advantages
- Higher accuracy
- Less radiation
- Fast learning curve
Conventional, freehand MIS presents many challenges. According to literature, in freehand surgery there are instances of misplaced pedicle screws and high levels of radiation are required for intraoperative imaging to assure accuracy. Spinal Robotics’ state-of-the-art technology overcomes these challenges thus redefining the standard of care for MIS.
Spinal Robotics Technology has been successfully used in the placement of over 20,000 implants in the United States and Europe. Numerous peer-reviewed publications and presentations at leading scientific conferences have validated the accuracy, usability, and its clinical advantages. It is now available for Spine procedures in Singapore states Dr Prem Pillay, Spine Neurosurgeon and Robotic Expert.
Recent Advances and Future Directions
Expanded Applications
Recent advances have seen the expansion of robotic applications beyond thoracolumbar pedicle screw placement to include cervical spine instrumentation, pelvic fixation, and complex tumor reconstruction.
Improved Software and Planning Tools
Enhancements in imaging software are facilitating better patient registration, error minimization, and trajectory planning both preoperatively and intraoperatively.
Integration with Other Technologies
The combination of robotics with augmented reality and artificial intelligence is an area of active research and development.
Automated and Telerobotic Surgery
Future directions for robotic spine surgery include the development of automated surgical procedures and telerobotic capabilities, allowing for remote surgery.
Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
The integration of machine learning and AI algorithms into preoperative planning and intraoperative decision-making processes is a promising area of development.
Conclusion
Robotic-assisted spine surgery represents a significant advancement in the field, offering improved accuracy, reduced radiation exposure, and potentially better patient outcomes. While challenges such as cost and learning curves exist, ongoing technological developments and expanding applications suggest a bright future for robotics in spine surgery.As the technology continues to evolve, it is crucial to maintain clinical equipoise with established methods of screw placement and to conduct further long-term studies evaluating patient-reported outcomes and cost-effectiveness.
Dr Prem Pillay elaborates that the integration of robotics with other advanced technologies, such as augmented reality and artificial intelligence, may further revolutionize spine surgery in the coming years
