What is the success rate of robotic spine surgery?

Since the first successful spinal fusion in 1911, spinal surgery has come a long way. Technological advancements have enabled surgeons to conduct difficult surgeries with increased precision and accuracy. Robotic spine surgery, for example, has grown in popularity in recent years. But what is the procedure's success rate? Based on available data, we investigate the rise of robotic spine surgery and its success rate in this study.

What exactly is robotic spine surgery?

Robotic spine surgery is a minimally invasive surgical technique in which surgeons are assisted by robots during the procedure. It entails using a computer-guided technology to approach the spine with improved precision and accuracy. A range of disorders, including degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, and spinal stenosis, can be treated with robotic spine surgery.

The Advancement of Robot-Assisted Spine Surgery

Robot-assisted spine surgery has grown in popularity in recent years due to the several advantages it has over traditional open surgery. These advantages include:

Robotic spine surgery requires a considerably smaller incision than traditional open surgery, resulting in less discomfort, scarring, and blood loss.

Precise: Robotic spine surgery allows for better precision while accessing the spine, lowering the chance of tissue damage.

Faster recovery: Patients who have robotic spine surgery often recover faster than those who have traditional open surgery.

Robotic Spine Surgery Success Rates

While robotic spine surgery has many advantages, people understandably want to know the procedure's success rates before having it. Unfortunately, because robotic spine surgery is a relatively new operation, there is minimal evidence on its success rates.

According to one study published in 2018 by the University of California, San Francisco, robot-assisted spine surgery had a success rate of 97.4%. The study looked at the outcomes of 379 individuals who had robot-assisted spine surgery and discovered that only 10 of them had issues.

Another 2020 study published in the Journal of Spine Surgery looked at the outcomes of 975 individuals who had minimally invasive robotic spine surgery. According to the study, the overall clinical success rate was 87.5%, with a complication rate of 4.7%. Minor problems such as transient numbness or tingling in the legs were the most common.

While these studies indicate that robotic spine surgery is highly successful, it is crucial to highlight that there are a variety of factors that can influence the procedure's outcome. These variables include the surgeon's ability and experience, the complexity of the problem being treated, and the patient's overall health.

The Advantages and Drawbacks of Robotic Spine Surgery

Aside from the benefits already discussed, robotic spine surgery has other advantages over traditional open surgery. These benefits include:

Less harm to surrounding tissues: Robotic spine surgery provides for more precision while accessing the spine, lowering the chance of tissue damage.

Patients who have robotic spine surgery often have shorter hospital stays than those who have traditional open surgery.

Lower infection rates: Because robotic spine surgery is a less invasive operation, infection rates are lower than in traditional open surgery.

However, there are hazards involved with robotic spine surgery, just as there are with any surgical technique. These dangers include:

Anesthesia complications: As with any surgery, there is a possibility of complications associated to anesthesia, such as an allergic response or breathing difficulties.

Infection: Although the danger of infection is decreased with robotic spine surgery than with traditional open surgery, it nevertheless exists.

Nerve damage: During robotic spine surgery, there is a risk of nerve damage, which can cause numbness, tingling, or weakness in the afflicted area.

Conclusion

Robotic spine surgery is an exciting new method that has numerous advantages over traditional open surgery. While there is minimal data on its success rates, available research indicate that it is extremely successful with a low complication rate. There are dangers involved with robotic spine surgery, as with any surgical treatment, and patients should consider these concerns with their surgeon before determining if this technique is best for them.