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Robot-assisted cervical screw placement for atlantoaxial fixation
Meghana Bhimreddy1, A Daniel Davidar1, Arjun K Menta1
1Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
Neurosurgical Focus: Video
|August 1, 2025
Summary
This video demonstrates robot-assisted C1 lateral mass and C2 pars screw placement for posterior C1-2 fusion. It highlights accurate screw insertion in the complex cervical spine for spinal cord compression.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Medical Robotics
Background:
- Robotic navigation is established for thoracic and lumbar spine surgery.
- Cervical spine robot-assisted screw placement is less common due to anatomical complexity.
- High accuracy is crucial in the cervical spine due to nearby vascular structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To illustrate robot-assisted C1 lateral mass and C2 pars screw placement.
- To demonstrate posterior C1-2 fusion using the ExcelsiusGPS surgical robot.
- To address spinal cord compression from a retro-odontoid pannus.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the ExcelsiusGPS surgical robot for screw placement.
- Performed posterior C1-2 fusion.
- Targeted C1 lateral mass and C2 pars screw insertion.
Main Results:
- Successfully placed C1 lateral mass screws.
- Successfully placed C2 pars screws.
- Achieved posterior C1-2 fusion in a patient with a retro-odontoid pannus.
Conclusions:
- Robot-assisted surgery is feasible for posterior C1-2 fusion.
- The ExcelsiusGPS system enables accurate screw placement in the complex cervical spine.
- This technique can effectively treat cervical pathologies like spinal cord compression.
