A novel fluoroscopy-based robot system for pedicle screw fixation surgery.

Area of Science:

• Spinal Surgery
• Robotics in Medicine
• Surgical Technology

Background:

• Robot-assisted pedicle screw insertion is increasingly popular but limited by high costs.
• Developing affordable and clinically acceptable robotic systems is crucial for broader surgical application.
• Current high costs hinder the widespread adoption of robotic systems in spinal surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel, cost-effective fluoroscopy-based robot system for pedicle screw insertion.
• To assess the accuracy, surgical time, and fluoroscopy time of the developed robot system compared to freehand insertion.
• To determine the clinical feasibility and potential for widespread application of the low-cost robotic system.

Main Methods:

• A novel fluoroscopy-based robot system was developed for pedicle screw insertion.
• Percutaneous pedicle screw insertion was performed on four live pigs, comparing robot-assisted (left side) and freehand (right side) techniques.
• Accuracy, surgical time, and intraoperative fluoroscopy time were recorded for both methods.

Main Results:

• The robot-assisted group achieved 100% accuracy in pedicle screw placement (23/23 screws).
• Robot-assisted surgery significantly reduced intraoperative fluoroscopy time (6.4 ± 1.7 min) compared to the freehand group (12.5 ± 3.6 min).
• Surgical time per screw was also reduced with the robot system (6.8 ± 2.1 min) versus freehand (12.1 ± 4.8 min).

Conclusions:

• The developed robot system is cost-effective and accurate for pedicle screw placement.
• The system's low economic cost facilitates broader clinical application, especially in primary hospitals.
• This technology presents a feasible and accessible solution for improving spinal surgery outcomes.