Robotic Spine Surgery

Robotic spine surgery is today the most pioneering development in spine surgery. The robotic system operates under the full control of the spine surgeon offering millimeter accuracy during the operation, faster functional results and absolute safety. This new surgical technique has radically changed the approach to spinal surgeries, since it can ensure the success of the surgery, reducing patients’ fear and anxiety.

It is a minimally invasive technique that combines advanced intraoperative navigation technology with the robotic arm, which is fully guided by the specialized spine surgeon. Robotic assistance ensures the placement of materials with extremely high precision and the execution of all the surgeon’s commands, with absolute stability. The robotic arm in no way replaces the spine surgeon but acts as a precision tool in his hands. The surgeon makes all the decisions and maintains full control of the operating room from start to finish.

ExcelsiusGPS is the world’s most modern and integrated precision robotic system for stereotactic and robotic spine surgery. The use of the robotic system can only be done by certified spine surgeons, which ensures a high level of know-how, excellent postoperative result and minimization of morbidity rates.

With ExcelsiusGPS, each stage of the surgery is pre-planned, while the surgeon is given the opportunity to select personalized implants (custom-made). Through the robotic arm, the doctor guides the placement of these implants in detail and has the same 3D imaging throughout the operation.

Robotic technology in the hands of an experienced spine surgeon can deliver impressive results, even in the most demanding or complex cases, such as correcting severe spinal deformities and revising failed surgeries. Now the spine surgeon has absolute control and can perform his surgical plan with high precision and safety.

Image: Dr. Konstantinos Starantzis, Certified Spine Surgeon ExcelsiusGPS Robotic System

Robotic spine surgery offers multiple benefits for both the patient and the surgeon.

The biggest advantage of this surgical technique is the high precision in the placement of the materials (trans-hyphenated screws), which is performed with the help of 3D imaging in real time. This significantly reduces the risk of complications that may arise due to improper placement of materials. At the same time, the duration of spine surgery is shorter, blood loss is minimized and the risk of infections is reduced. Hospitalization is usually shorter compared to conventional surgeries and the return to everyday life is much faster. It is proven to be a modern surgical technique that provides safety, faster recovery and predetermined successful results.

Robotic spine surgery can be applied in cases where materials are placed in the spine and are not used for operations, such as microdiscectomies and nerve decompressions, that do not require spinal fusion.

It can be chosen for the treatment of a number of conditions, such as:

• Spinal stenosis
• Scoliosisin children and adults
• Kyphosis in children & adults
• Spondylolisthesis
• Review of Failed Surgeries
• Vertebral fractures
• Oncology Spine Surgeries

Before the operation, the necessary imaging examinations are performed, while in large deformity surgeries, the planning and execution of the surgery begins several days earlier. Dr. Starantzis precisely programs, exactly where, the materials (such as screws) will be placed in a digitally augmented reality environment. Through this procedure, the success of the operation is ensured, since the spine surgeon can predetermine with great precision the placement of the materials before the operation. It can correct even the smallest detail so that everything is done in the most efficient way.

The realignment rods are now personalized and tailored to the patient and mainly shaped according to the surgeon’s design, without having to be configured intraoperatively. This saves valuable time and reduces blood loss, while maintaining the durability of the materials.

At the time of the operation, the part of the placement of the materials is performed with absolute precision, as planned.

The biggest benefit, in addition to top safety, is faster recovery for the patient himself. After the surgery, he stays in the hospital for a few days and then returns home, follows the postoperative instructions and soon can return to his activities and experience a quality everyday life again.