Robotics in spine surgery is an exciting and growing field that is helping people overcome back pain. This type of surgery uses small robots to assist in the procedure, which can be less invasive and have a shorter recovery time. If you or someone you know is struggling with back pain, this may be a treatment option to consider.
Spine surgeons know that if they have to operate on a patient’s back, it is going to be more challenging because of the time required for recovery. In order to reduce pain and speed up recovery, robotics have been introduced into certain procedures.
The cameras on the robots allow doctors and nurses to see what is happening inside the body during surgery. This can be especially helpful for patients undergoing minimally invasive procedures that require observation throughout the surgery and afterward.
What Is Robotics In Spine Surgery
Robotics in spine surgery is the use of robotic technology to decrease the time and risk of spinal surgery. The devices enable surgeons to take superior and more precise approaches to surgery so that patients are less likely to experience postoperative pain and require longer recovery times. The use of robotic systems in surgical domains has increased during the last ten years, and developments have exploded.
Robotics in spine surgery is a relatively new area of medicine which has gained popularity in the last few years. Though robotic surgery is not used in all types of spine surgeries, it currently represents the choice for a number of procedures such as:
Decompression surgeries: Decompression surgery is often used for recovering from complex spinal injuries such as a burst fracture. Complications are more likely during this type of surgery, which can lead to more pain and prolonged recovery time. Using robotics reduces the risk of complications during this type of procedure.
Pros Of Robotic Spine Surgery
Robotic technology is becoming increasingly popular in the medical field, as it offers a number of advantages over traditional surgical procedures. One such advantage is the use of a robotic arm to insert pedicle screws, which is a minimally invasive technique that can be used to fixate the spine.
This procedure is less invasive than traditional methods, and it has been shown to be more effective in treating patients with spinal problems.
Specialties including general surgery, urology, and gynaecology were early users of this technology since robotics have improved the capacity to move tissue in body cavities.
1. Pain Relief
If you are having back pain, the best way to relieve the pain is to correct the problem causing it. Using a robot in the surgery can make it easier for your spine surgeon to repair the problem area.
This will also allow you to recover more quickly and with less pain. Robots can also be used after an operation to help with recovery.
2. Minimally Invasive Surgery
Traditional back surgery can take up a lot of time since it takes a long time for your body to heal from cuts and surgeries on your spine. Minimally invasive procedures are shorter and more efficient with less recovery time.
3. Less Distressed Patients
The patients who use robotic surgery tend to be a lot more relaxed because they know they will not feel any pain from the robot or from the incisions made during surgery. For those who are very nervous about surgery, this can help to make the process easier for them.
4. Improved Surgical Skills
Spine surgeons have had a few years of experience using robotic equipment, so they already have a good idea of how it should work and where best to use it during surgery. Additionally, surgeons who have a lot of experience with robotics are typically better at their jobs; they make fewer mistakes and use less-invasive procedures when possible.
5. Fewer Infections
One of the greatest benefits of using robotic surgical equipment is that it is easier for the surgeon to keep clean, which reduces the chance for infection. When preparing for surgery, a table is created that helps the patient stay in one place during the procedure. This is so the instruments will not have to be passed around since this can increase the chance of infection.
6. Better Healing Process
With less cutting and suturing, your body has less work to do healing back pain and other problems before you can start feeling better. The faster you can get back to your normal routine and the more active you can be, the faster you will feel better and recover.
7. Improved Accuracy
Robotic equipment is generally more accurate than other technology because it is designed to work within specific limits. The robotic equipment used during surgeries has been tested extensively and follows strict guidelines to ensure accuracy.
8. Greater Patient Comfort
The robot’s arms follow a set pattern, which means that there are less chances for the surgeon to get distracted or miss a step in the process. The patient will be more comfortable knowing that everything is being done in a timely fashion so he or she can start feeling better sooner.
Cons Of Robotic Spine Surgery
Robotic spine surgery is a minimally invasive spine surgery that uses a robotic surgical system to aid in the surgical procedure. This type of surgery is less invasive than traditional spine surgery, and thus results in less pain and scarring for the patient. In addition, robotic spine surgery allows for a more precise surgery, which can lead to better outcomes.
Robotic systems were first used in these fields early on, which sparked innovation and led to their use in other surgical subspecialties; more recently, the field of spine surgery has adopted robotic systems.
One of the most important advancements in surgical instruments in recent years has been the development of minimally invasive techniques that permit surgery to be performed with much less radiation exposure and spinal implants. Robotic systems have also been developed that allow surgeons to operate with even greater precision and accuracy.
1. Better Skills Are Expected
If you are going to have a robot in surgery, you must have experienced spine surgeons operating on a robot before. This means that people who do not have a lot of experience with this type of surgery will not be able to perform the procedure as well.
Since most of the patients who use robots are nervous about the procedure, it is important for them to be confident doctors do what they say they will do before they schedule the surgery.
The first descriptions of pedicle screw placement techniques date back to the late 1950s, and a great deal of adaptation and methodological development have taken place since then. These advances include the description of open and percutaneous approaches using a variety of navigated techniques.
2. Damage
While robots seem to be pretty accurate when following a set pattern during surgery, if one is not used properly, it can cause damage. If the surgeon does not know how the robot works or is unsure about a course of action, it can cause problems for the patient.
Before you decide to use robotic equipment during your back surgery, make sure that you trust the doctor who will be operating on you.
3. Limited Application
While some procedures like spine fusion are ideal for robotic surgery, other procedures may not be. Some spine surgeries are performed in tight spaces and have to be done manually so that there is room to work with the various tools needed during spinal surgery.
If a procedure has been found to cause more complications than benefits while using robotic equipment, then surgeons may choose not to use it when they would otherwise have opted for this method of proceeding with back surgery.
4. Procedure Is Still Short
While a robot allows spine surgeons to see inside the body more easily, it can still take quite a bit of time for them to make the actual incision and complete the procedure. Once again, this is an instance where trusting your surgeon is important because you want a surgeon who will not be distracted from what he or she is doing during surgery.
5. Risk Of Infection
The technology used in robotic surgery has been cleaned in a way that reduces risk of infection, but there are still some risks involved because surgeons must enter your body.
If you are already prone to infections, you should talk with your surgeon about the risk of infection with this type of surgery because it is not worth the risk if you are likely to have problems with back pain or infections after surgery.
6. Less Contact
Because the robot allows surgeons to see inside your body more easily, they do not need to use as many tools when they perform certain procedures. With less handling of instruments during surgery, patients may not feel as much contact from their doctors while they are in surgery.
While this may make the procedure easier for some patients, it can make others feel less secure in trusting their doctors during the procedure.
7. More Recovery Time
Since the robots are used in complicated procedures, you will likely require some time to recover. Make sure you know how long the actual surgery will take along with all of the recovery time before scheduling a robotic procedure.
Patients who are very active may find that their back pain is not as bad after a few weeks as it was before, but they may have to put up with more pain while they recover.
8. Less Human Contact
Getting through surgery using a robot will allow surgeons to see your body and make any necessary incisions without actually touching you in any way. Patients who prefer more human contact from their doctors will not be happy with this type of procedure.
If you are concerned about the lack of human contact, talk to your surgeon and see how he or she feels about using robotic equipment during surgery.
The Different Levels Of Robotic Spine Surgery
The ExcelsiusGPS (Globus Medical, Audubon, PA, USA), the Mazor X Stealth Edition (Medtronic, Dublin, Ireland), and the ROSA ONE Spine are among the most recent technology (Zimmer Biomet, Warsaw, IN, USA). All three of these systems are presently marketed for sale.
With the help of robotic guidance, surgeons are able to place screws with greater accuracy during spinal fusion surgery. This minimally invasive technique is less disruptive to surrounding tissue, which leads to a quicker and easier recovery for patients.
1. Pneumatic
Pneumatic robotic spine surgery uses pressurized air to assist in making the incisions that are needed. These robots work best for procedures that require precision, such as Fusions, Arthroplasties, and Microdiscectomies. This kind of robotic surgery usually takes around 2-3 hours to complete.
2. Cardiac
Cardiac robotic spine surgery utilizes a computerized surgical kit with a spinal board and two surgical arms attached to it which uses the principles of automated surgery to help perform various back surgeries including Laminectomies, Disc Decompressions, Disc Repairs, Disk Flaps and Laminotomy.
This type of robotic spine surgery is used to help reduce the amount of damage that usually occurs when performing back surgeries. This is often considered a less invasive method than the other types of robotic spine surgery.
3. Open Surgery
Open surgical robotic spine surgery has been increasing in popularity recently and is done by using specialized instruments during the procedure rather than using tools that are actually inside the body.
Using this kind of robot for spinal fusion surgery will allow for a higher level of safety because specialists can tell exactly what position to place the patient in for the best outcome during spinal fusion surgery. Open surgical robotic spine surgery can be used during the removal of tumors from the spine.
Final Note
Back surgery is a procedure which can be very beneficial for many patients and yet there are some risks which need to be considered. While robotic spine surgery does cost more than traditional back surgery it also has many advantages over the traditional method of performing back surgeries.
Early findings on the use of robotic technology in spine surgery have demonstrated an accuracy of screw insertion that is comparable to other techniques.
By considering all of the advantages and disadvantages of this type of robotic spine surgery, you can make an informed decision about whether robotic spine surgery is right for you or not. If you are considering back surgery and have any questions, please speak with your doctor or surgeon today to learn more about what options are available to you.
Last Updated on October 5, 2023 by Priyanshi Sharma
