Not every spinal condition or disease requires an operation. However, when surgery is your best treatment option, our orthopaedic spine specialists at the Center for the Functional Restoration of the Spine (CFRS) may recommend robotic spine surgery.
What is robotic spine surgery?
Robotic surgery, also called robot-assisted surgery, is an advanced surgical option that enables your CFRS surgeon to perform complex procedures with improved precision and control compared to traditional surgery.
During the procedure, your specialist makes one or two small incisions and uses a robotic arm to guide surgical instruments, perform the procedure, and place screws and other hardware at the previously mapped treatment site. The robotic arm always remains under your surgeon’s control.
Our team at CFRS uses the Globus ExcelsiusGPS® system. This advanced platform includes a real-time navigation tool (GPS) guided by 3D imaging to ensure pinpoint accuracy during the surgery. The Globus system also provides visual information regarding nearby blood vessels, nerves, or other spinal structures that may interfere with hardware placement during the procedure.
Why would I need robotic spine surgery?
Our CFRS team makes every effort to reduce back or neck pain and restore mobility with physical therapy, activity modification, and other conservative treatments. However, surgery may be your best treatment option when these therapies fail to relieve your symptoms.
CFRS surgeons favor robotic spine surgery because of its minimally invasive nature and outstanding results. Conditions and procedures suitable for robotic spine surgery include:
- Herniated discs
- Scoliosis
- Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
- Spinal decompression
- Degenerative disc disease
- Discectomy
- Vertebral compression fracture
- Spinal fusion
- Kyphosis
- Spinal arthritis
Based on your evaluation, medical history, and current health status, we may recommend minimally invasive robotic spine surgery for symptom relief and improved quality of life.
What are the benefits of robotic spine surgery?
Minimally invasive robotic spine surgery offers several benefits compared to traditional surgical methods, including:
1. Improved presurgical planning
CT imaging of your spine obtained before the procedure can be combined with technology available via the Globus ExcelsiusGPS system to create a detailed surgical plan. This feature is especially beneficial for complex spine surgeries.
2. Enhanced accuracy
Accuracy is essential to a successful outcome when removing damaged discs or placing screws and other hardware during spine surgery. Software guidance via robotic-assisted systems provides surgical precision to a fraction of a millimeter.
3. Decreased operative time
Robotic spine surgery is generally shorter than traditional procedures thanks to increased precision, reduced incision size, and other benefits. This decreases your risk of intraoperative complications and often results in a faster postoperative recovery.
4. Faster healing and rehabilitation
The smaller incisions, reduced muscle trauma, and other minimally invasive characteristics of robotic spine surgery, which is frequently an outpatient procedure, often result in faster healing than traditional methods. As a result, individuals typically participate in physical therapy or postoperative rehab programs more quickly, enjoying a quicker return to routine activities.
For more information about the services we offer at CFRS, schedule an evaluation today by calling one of our New Jersey locations or request an appointment online.
