Transoral robotic-assisted surgery for the approach to anterior cervical spine lesions

The Da Vinci robotic surgical system is increasingly being used by head and neck surgeons in transoral approaches for head and neck cancer. Our experience using the Da Vinci system for transoral robotic-assisted surgery (TORS) is presented. The feasibility of TORS for lesions involving the anterior portion of C1-C2 and the cranio-cervical junction has been evaluated from an anatomical viewpoint in a cadaveric laboratory. Two patients treated using the Da Vinci system to reach C1-C2 benign lesions are presented. The anatomical cadaveric study showed that this approach is safe and feasible. The first two cases which we describe confirmed the advantages of the Da Vinci system in the anterior approach to the cervical spine and allowed the limitations of this procedure to be assessed. TORS may be useful to reach anterior lesions of the cervical spine localized at the level of C1 and C2: first, for removal of small benign and well-delineated lesions; and second, for diagnostic purposes with biopsy of large lesions. Further studies and new instruments are needed to confirm the safety and results of this approach in terms of morbidity.