Professor Zvi Lidar

“Robot-Assisted Spine Surgery Becomes More Common

The surgical robot is able to increase the patient’s safety during the procedure and reduce the time needed for surgery. It makes the neurosurgeons’ daily work easier, improves surgical skills and helps us make more precise movements and achieve the best results every day.

Minimally Invasive Surgery for Degenerative Spine Conditions

One of the most complex problems in the treatment of spinal tumors and injuries consists in performing surgery with minimal harm to the body and minimal corrections. At present, physicians implant screws relying on numerous X-rays during the procedure. It is known, however, that about 20% of screws do not take perfectly. This problem can be solved with the help of a surgical robot.

When a person behind the wheel of a car casts a glance to the side, the wheel often turns in the same direction. Conventional surgical techniques with visual guidance involve looking both at the patient and at the X-ray scan. This undermines the precision of screw implantation.

The robot correlates a CT scan with the patient’s actual anatomy. The surgeon points at a specific region in the scan, and the robot directs a tool strictly into that area. The system is connected to a camera that can read surgical marks on the patient’s body. Thus, the robot analyzes both the CT scan and the data from the camera on a real-time basis.

The biggest danger during the procedure comes from movement – for instance, breathing. The robot, however, recognizes any changes in the patient’s body position and, if necessary, alters surgical tool manipulations.”