The future of robotic surgery in otolaryngology - head and neck surgery

Robotic surgery for management of head and neck pathologies has only been in practice for little more than a decade. Since then, there has been a rapid development in the field of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and robotic surgery in otolaryngology. TORS has emerged as a tool in the treatment of both malignant and benign oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal, and laryngeal disease. TORS is also a critical component of ongoing clinical trials seeking to improve the treatment of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. In addition, it's application has expanded to treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, thyroid and parathyroid disease, and skull base pathologies. This review will provide an overview of the current application of robotics in otolaryngology as well as highlight the developing robotic platforms and technologies, and future of the field.