Robotic Spine Surgery
The benefits of robotic spine surgery
The advanced next-generation robotic system, Mazor X at Scripps Encinitas builds upon the success of its predecessor, a first-generation robotics system that aids surgeons with 3D software modeling, planning and guided placement of surgical implants.
Robotic spinal surgeries with Mazor X can provide patients improved recovery times, in part due to shorter times in the operating room, less time under anesthesia and reduced exposure to radiation from intraoperative imaging scans. The Mazor X can be used for spine surgeries involving the lumbar (lower), thoracic (mid-region) and C6-C7 level of cervical (neck) vertebrae.
Robotic spinal surgery is not for everyone with back pain. The procedure is most commonly recommended for patients to treat scoliosis, spinal fractures, degenerative disc disease and other serious spine problems and complications that have not responded to medications, physical therapy or spinal injections.
How robotic surgery helps orthopedic surgeons
As with other robotic surgical devices, the Mazor X does not perform actual surgeries. Instead, the integrated platform provides surgeons with a comprehensive display of data and anatomical images of the patient’s spine. This allows them to perform millimeter guidance for surgical placement of implants to successfully fuse vertebra, realign curvatures and repair fractures.
The platform is engineered to maximize surgical precision and improve outcomes by linking surgeon knowledge and experience with digital data and computer-based navigation.