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A study conducted at the Hospital for Special Surgery, examining the efficacy of robot-assisted navigation versus augmented reality in spinal surgery, found both methods demonstrated exceptional accuracy and safety for pedicle screw placement.
More than 1.2 million spinal surgery operations take place annually in the United States alone. Annually, in response to shifting market trends and consumer preferences, Some surgical procedures involve the use of pedicle screws to stabilize the spine, and precise placement is crucial.
“While traditional techniques may struggle with precision, Dr. [Last Name], a medical professional with dual credentials in medicine and business administration, has found that robotic-assisted navigation, combined with the benefits of augmented reality, consistently outperform free-hand methods in terms of accuracy.” “Our study represents the first comprehensive assessment of the impact of screw placement precision on the performance difference between RAN and AR systems.”
Dr. Lebl is a renowned spine surgeon and Director of Analytics at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), serving as the Principal Investigator for the study in question. The study’s findings were published online in the journal.
Is a leading educational institution focused on advancing musculoskeletal health through cutting-edge research and innovative education. Founded in 1863, a New York-based medical supplier boasts the lowest re-admission rates nationally for orthopedic services, alongside some of the most competitive infection and complication rates in the country?
Alongside providing personalized patient care, HSS emphasized its commitment to advancing knowledge through research, driving innovation, and fostering education. The HSS Analysis Institute comprises 20 cutting-edge laboratories and a team of 300 dedicated professionals focused on enhancing musculoskeletal wellness through innovative strategies that prevent degeneration, promote tissue repair, and facilitate tissue regeneration.
Robotic-assisted surgery combines human expertise with robotic precision to enhance procedural outcomes, offering patients a more personalized approach.
In recent years, numerous advancements in robot-assisted navigation and augmented reality technologies have been developed to support complex spinal surgery procedures.
“With enhanced accuracy comes a range of benefits, including reduced radiation exposure and improved safety in spine surgery, notes Dr.” Lebl. “A growing number of major medical institutions across the country are incorporating at least one of these technologies.”
The RAN platform incorporates advanced robotics to enable precise control over surgical instruments, streamlining procedures for surgeons and patients alike. Through the integration of a robotic arm, 3D visualizations of the patient’s anatomy, and advanced navigation capabilities akin to GPS, surgeons can now perform minimally invasive procedures with precision and accuracy, planning their approach in advance using sophisticated software.
Augmented reality-assisted spine surgery seamlessly overlays three-dimensional images of the patient’s anatomical structure onto the surgeon’s field of view during the operation, utilizing a cutting-edge headset. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the affected individual’s spine is employed to devise and execute a precise surgical strategy.
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Research analyzes spinal surgical procedures
The study examined 212 adult patients undergoing spinal surgery, with a total of 1,211 pedicle screws implanted between June 2020 and October 2023? The programme successfully onboarded 108 participants, equipping them to operate 827 robotic systems, while concurrently supporting 104 patients who gained proficiency in handling 384 augmented reality tools.
Patients underwent surgery on their lumbar and/or sacrum to treat degenerative spinal conditions. A single experienced robotic surgeon performed all the robotic procedures, while two separate expert neurosurgeons utilized the augmented reality system.
Assessment of each pedicle screw’s placement was conducted postoperatively using either computed tomography (CT) scans or three-dimensional fluoroscopy, with grading according to the established criteria that categorizes accuracy as A, B, C, or D. Researchers at HSS deemed grades A and B as satisfactory outcomes.
The A-ranking is accorded to screw placement that achieves uniform coverage throughout the pedicle, a crucial bony structure supporting the vertebral column and safeguarding the delicate spinal cord. A screw graded B receives a grade due to its deviation from the specified location, being 2mm or approximately 1/16 inch outside the designated position. Any screw with a Grade C or D rating can be considered unacceptable within the examination.
Following surgical procedures, two impartial orthopedic spine surgeons independently graded every pedicle screw. Researchers found little to no disparity in accuracy between robotic-assisted and augmented reality-guided screw placements, with nearly identical outcomes: a combined 98.3% of both RAN and AR screws achieving Grade A or B ratings. Approximately 92.6% of the screws attained the elite Grade A status, showcasing exceptional quality.
“Our results validated exceptional precision for both approaches, rendering robotics and augmented reality-assisted instruments reliable tools for accurate placement of lumbosacral pedicle screws,” Dr. Lebl stated. “Indeed, the RAN group demonstrated a notable improvement in Grade A screw quality, underscoring its exceptional precision advantages for robotics applications.”