Minimally Invasive Robotic Lumbar Facet Decortication

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Neurosurgery
• Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Background:

• Minimally invasive percutaneous pedicle screws (PPS) offer rigid fixation for spinal stability and fusion.
• Percutaneous pedicle instrumentation often serves as posterior stabilization after anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) or lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF).
• Current techniques may not fully leverage posterior fusion potential, limiting circumferential fusion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel minimally invasive technique for percutaneous robotic facet decortication.
• To integrate this technique with percutaneous pedicle screws (PPS) following ALIF or LLIF.
• To enhance circumferential fusion in minimally invasive spine surgery.

Main Methods:

• Description of a novel technique for percutaneous robotic facet decortication.
• Integration of robotic facet decortication with minimally invasive percutaneous pedicle screw placement.
• Application following anterior lumbar interbody fusion or lateral lumbar interbody fusion.

Main Results:

• Successful description of a novel technique for percutaneous robotic facet decortication.
• Demonstration of a method to combine robotic facet decortication with PPS.
• Potential to increase fusion surface area and achieve circumferential fusion.

Conclusions:

• A novel minimally invasive technique for percutaneous robotic facet decortication is presented.
• This technique can be combined with PPS and anterior/lateral interbody fusion.
• The described method offers a new approach to enhance spinal fusion outcomes.