Robotic spine surgery: Ushering in a new era

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Medical Robotics

Background:

• Growing interest in intraoperative imaging, navigation, and robotics for safer spine surgery.
• Surgical robot systems are a recent development, with pedicle screw insertion as the primary current application.
• Purported benefits include increased accuracy, consistency, and reduced radiation exposure, though high-quality evidence is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the evolution and current status of robotic spine surgery.
• To provide an evidence-based discussion of robotic applications in spine surgery.
• To explore the advantages and limitations of robot-assisted spinal procedures.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of robotic systems in spine surgery.
• Analysis of studies supporting or refuting claims of robotic assistance.
• Discussion of current and emerging applications of robotic spine surgery.

Main Results:

• Robot-assisted pedicle screw insertion is the main application, with debated benefits.
• Limitations include increased operative time, learning curve, and technical challenges.
• Applications are expanding into spinal deformity, oncology, and interventional treatments.

Conclusions:

• Robotic spine surgery is evolving, with pedicle screw insertion as a key area.
• Further high-quality evidence is needed to validate the purported advantages.
• The field holds promise for expanding applications in complex spinal conditions.